Govt to form permanent commission to curb enforced disappearance: Adviser

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has said that a powerful permanent commission will be formed to curb enforced disappearance in future.

The law adviser said this while talking to journalists after a meeting with a delegation from the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) at his office on Monday.

 “An act will be formulated within a month on the prevention of enforced disappearance,” he said.

Grazyna Baranowska, Vice-Chairperson and Ana Lorena Delgadillo Perez, member of the United Nations Working Group held the meeting with the law adviser.

Replying a question on the chance of scrapping the act by the next government, Dr Asif Nazrul said, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami or NCP, whoever comes to power next, were the victims of enforced disappearances and all of them were vocal against it.

“WGEID repeatedly wanted to come to Bangladesh during the tenure of the previous government. But the previous fascist Awami League government did not allow them to come to Bangladesh, and did not even reply to their letters,” the law adviser added.

While talking about formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Dr Asif Nazrul said it was formed in South Africa and had created a sensation around the globe. Later such commission was formed in Sri Lanka and Nepal, but couldn’t become much successful.”

The law adviser said they went to South Africa under the leadership of the Chief Justice and held many meetings there. 

“In the second phase, we have plans to hold a regional conference under the leadership of the Chief Justice. Experts from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and South Africa will be invited. We will consider what can be done with the opinions of all the political parties, civil society, human rights groups, and student groups of Bangladesh,” he also said.