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

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman broke down in tears as families of victims of enforced disappearance and murder, carried out during the previous Awami League government's tenure, recounted their suffering at a programme organised in Dhaka today (17 January).

The event, organised by Amra BNP Paribar and Mayer Daak at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, brought together families of victims who described years of waiting, uncertainty, and grief.

After hearing the accounts, Tarique Rahman said he struggled to remain composed.

"As they were sharing the stories of their suffering, I was breaking down with every passing moment," he said.

He explained that during the previous government's tenure, he had remained engaged in organisational efforts from abroad, trying to support protests and resistance against what he described as autocratic practices.

"I have been forced to stay away from the country, relatives, and people for many years. Organisationally, we have tried to maintain a street presence against the autocracy and build protest movements. In the same way, we tried to stand by the people who lost their relatives with our means and capacity," he said.

He said there may have been limitations but insisted there was no lack of sincerity.

"The answer to how much we succeeded or failed is different. However, I can say this much — there was no lack of our sincerity. Perhaps there were limitations. There are still limitations. But even then, we have continued our efforts. This effort of ours will continue in the future."

Tarique said he firmly believes no conspiracy or propaganda can suppress the party whose activists can take an uncompromising stand against injustice and oppression.

One of the most emotional testimonies came from adolescent Adiba Islam Hridi, who shared her dream of going to school with her father, which remained unfulfilled since childhood.

"Gum (enforced disappearance) is a very small word, but it hides thousands of cries, pain and tears inside," she said.

Her father, Parvez Hossain, was picked up from Shahbagh on 2 December 2013 when she was only two and a half years old. She said her family has not received any trace of him in the years since.

Tarique Rahman and several senior BNP leaders were also seen crying as they listened, creating an emotional atmosphere inside the venue.

Referring to the previous government's tenure, the BNP chairman said, "More than 1.5 lakh false cases were filed against BNP leaders and activists, the burden of which has had to be borne by nearly 60 lakh leaders and activists."

He said many had been forced to live away from their homes, families, and loved ones for long periods, adding that "all these cases were political."

He said the "horrific days of disappearances and murders" had now come to an end and that Bangladesh had begun "walking the path of democracy."

He added, "We do not have the language to console those people who have lost their relatives, those mothers, sisters, and children who have lost their children, husbands, and fathers. We have crossed a miserable time."

Tarique Rahman said many children "perhaps did not get the opportunity to see their father's face even for a single day," and that some families continued to wait in the hope that the disappeared would return.

"Many children are still waiting, hoping that a disappeared or lost father might suddenly come and knock on their door. Many mothers are perhaps still waiting—that her disappeared dear child will suddenly appear before the mother and call out 'Ma'."

He said the anti-autocracy movement had fluctuated in intensity over more than a decade and a half, but BNP activists had remained on the streets.

"Despite years of countless disappearances, murders, abductions, false cases, harassment, and torture, not a single leader or activist of the BNP left the streets," he said.

He added that some families continued their activism even after losing relatives.

"One brother of the same family disappeared, and the other brother stood up the next day with the vow to make the movement on the streets even more intense."

He said, "We will try with all our strength so that this sacrifice does not go in vain. The state and the government certainly have many, many duties and responsibilities towards those who have been disappeared and those who have been martyred in the anti-fascist movement."

Tarique Rahman said BNP had adopted plans to commemorate the martyrs, although these could not yet be disclosed.

"Due to the obligations of the Election Commission, I cannot present those plans at this moment," he said.

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"If our party is able to form a government with the support of the people, we will name important state roads or various important government and private installations after the martyrs. So that generation after generation can remember these martyrs with glory," he stated.

He added that there was a need for state support for families affected by political violence.

He also said an opportunity had now emerged "to build a humane state responsible to the people," but warned that some groups were attempting to create unrest. He urged supporters of democracy to remain alert.

"Those trying to once again disrupt the path of democracy by creating controversy through various pretexts must not be successful," he said.

He added that failing to build a democratic government would be "an act of oppression against the martyrs of the democratic movement" and "a disrespect to their sacrifice."

He concluded that justice for past abuses depended on establishing a democratic administration. "If the judgment of every injustice is to be established, then a democratic government is certainly needed in Bangladesh," he said.

"A government that will work to fulfil the aspirations of the people. A government that will ensure justice for the persecuted and oppressed people."

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also spoke at the event. The event ended with family members calling for justice and the return of those still missing.