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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) alleged on Wednesday that the government had used enforced disappearance as a manoeuvre to raise fear and panic and create a sense of insecurity among the people aiming to gag opponents' voice to perpetuate fascism in the country.
Senior joint secretary general of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the comment at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital.
"Rates of enforced disappearance, killing, abduction, cross-fire and extrajudicial killings in the name of gun-fight have increased during the present government," he said.
"We on behalf of BNP strongly call upon the government to give back those who became victims of enforced disappearance including our party leader Ilias Ali," he said while addressing a programme marking 12 years of the 'enforced disappearance' of Ilias Ali.
Mr Rizvi further said that Ilias Ali's wife and family members had been eagerly waiting for his return to the family.
He warned the government to get ready for facing trial for all incidents of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings.
Replying to the comment made by ruling Awami League general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader against BNP over the number of the party's (BNP) detained leaders and activists, Mr Rizvi said they had provided the lists to the government in the past.
"Many people were killed, abducted and made victims of enforced disappearance during the vote-less government of Sheikh Hasina. The United Nations sent a list of enforced disappearance victims to the government. But this government has not yet replied about it," he said.