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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused the interim government of failing to respond to the long-standing grief of families affected by enforced disappearances.
Speaking at an event at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Friday, Fakhrul said the government has yet to take any steps to open “public hearings” or begin the accountability process.
“The government has failed to stop the tears of mothers, brothers, and relatives of the disappeared,” he added. “They must be held accountable.”
Demanding a comprehensive judicial process, the BNP leader reaffirmed BNP’s support for the victims’ families.
“We give you this assurance—we are always with these children, with Tuli’s mother (Sanjida Islam Tuli), and we will remain with them until full justice is served,” he said.
“From the very first day, we have stood with the families of the disappeared. We have stood beside every persecuted and oppressed individual.”
Fakhrul also pointed to the long record of “political repression” his party has faced.
He said: “Our leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, spent six years in jail under false charges. Tarique Rahman remains in exile. Among us, not a single leader has been spared—some have faced 100, 200, even 400 cases.
“Most have been arrested. So it would be a mistake to assume the BNP will walk away from these issues.”
Reflecting on past disappearances, he said the trauma continues to haunt families.
“I still remember those days—many who joined the movement were never seen again. In one family, even seven members disappeared. It hurts to see their children, who were so small back then—now they’ve grown up, but without justice.”
Referring to the origin of the crisis, Fakhrul blamed the previous Awami League government for introducing disappearances as “a political weapon”.
“To us, ‘disappearance’ was once a term in books or foreign reports. But the Hasina government used the state itself to carry them out.”
Fakhrul demanded legal action against the ousted premier.
“It’s now beyond doubt—Hasina was responsible for these crimes. Her trial must take place in this country. She must face the highest punishment possible,” he said.