The recent fall of Bangladesh’s longest serving Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has raised concerns about the fate of hundreds of people who have been forcibly disappeared in the country.
Since coming to power in 2009, Sheikh Hasina’s government has been accused of participating in or turning a blind eye to the widespread practice of enforced disappearances. Human rights organizations have documented numerous cases of individuals being abducted by state security forces or by individuals believed to be associated with the government, with many of them never being heard from again.
With Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power, there is now hope among the families of the disappeared that justice may finally be served. Calls for accountability for those responsible for these abductions have grown louder, with demands for an independent investigation into the matter.
However, the fate of the forcibly disappeared remains uncertain, as the political landscape in Bangladesh is in a state of flux following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. The new government will have to address the legacy of enforced disappearances and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
As the country navigates this period of transition, it is crucial that the voices of the families of the disappeared are heard and that their demands for justice are met. The fate of Bangladesh’s forcibly disappeared hangs in the balance, and it is up to the new government to ensure that they are not forgotten.
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Video “Hasina’s gone, but fate of Bangladesh’s forcibly disappeared uncertain” was uploaded on 09/22/2024 to Youtube Channel Al Jazeera English