'Going to school holding my father's hand': A daughter's dream still unfulfilled a decade later

"'Gum' (enforced disappearance) may seem like a small word, but it hides thousands of cries, pain and tears. Since childhood, I have had only one dream —going to school holding my father's hand. But that dream has not yet come true."

It was Adiba Islam Hridhi who was sharing this tear-soaked heartbreak. She was only two and a half years old when her father Parvez Hossain was picked up from the Shahbagh area of the capital on 2 December 2013.

Since then, there has been no trace of him, leaving the family to endure an agonising wait.

The commission says 'those who have disappeared, assume they are dead'. Why should we assume our fathers are no longer alive? Is it so simple arithmetic? Is being involved in a political party a crime? If not, then what kind of justice is this in Bangladesh?

Adiba Islam Hridhi

Appealing for her father's return, Hridhi asked a series of questions: "Will my dream ever come true? Will my brother ever get to see our father's face? In this independent country, will we not get justice? Where are our fathers? Why were they disappeared?"

Hridhi narrated her story at a discussion meeting with families of victims of enforced disappearance, killings and torture, held at 11:30am today (17 January). BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman attended the programme as the chief guest.

The event was jointly organised by "Amra BNP Poribar" and "Mayer Daak," where family members of those who became victims of disappearance or killing during the previous Awami League rule recounted their long-standing sufferings.

Hridi also questioned the approach of the disappearance commission, saying, "The commission says 'those who have disappeared, assume they are dead'. Why should we assume our fathers are no longer alive? Is it so simple arithmetic? Is being involved in a political party a crime? If not, then what kind of justice is this in Bangladesh?"

At one stage of her speech, Hridhi directly appealed to the BNP's chairperson to help find her father. "Years pass, new years come, but our fathers do not return. More than a year has passed since 5 August [the fall of Awami League government in 2024], yet we have not got a single one of them back," she said.

"I expect Tarique Rahman uncle to help find our fathers and ensure justice for these enforced disappearances on the soil of Bangladesh."

'I was breaking down with every passing moment': Tarique in tears as families of disappearance victims recount ordeal

Senior BNP leaders present at the programme included Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Treasurer Rashiduzzaman Millat, Chairperson's Adviser Tahsina Rushdi Luna, Assistant Education Affairs Secretary Anisur Rahman Talukdar Khokon and National Executive Committee member Humam Quader Chowdhury, among others.