We’ll see the end of enforced disappearances: Asif Nazrul

The government lacks neither the courage nor the sincerity in investigating and prosecuting cases of enforced disappearances, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has said.

Speaking at the opening of the eighth congress of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearance, or AFAD, on Friday at a hotel in Dhaka, Nazrul assured the victims’ families of the government’s unwavering commitment.

He said, “We stand with you. It does not matter what position we hold. Do not doubt our sincerity; all I ask is this.”

“We may have shortcomings in our capabilities, but there is no shortage of our sincerity or courage. We will see this through to the end,” he added.

The advisor described enforced disappearance as an even more heinous crime than murder.

“When a person dies, you know their body is there. But the pain of not knowing whether someone is alive or dead is unbearable,” said Nazrul.

During the event, relatives of the disappeared raised concerns about the lack of progress under the previous government despite promises to investigate.

Nazrul said, “This interim government is different from others. We are all well-established in our respective professions. Our only asset is our ‘reputation’. Therefore, there is no question of repeating the actions of the previous government.”

“Our commitment is certainly stronger than before. No government has formed a commission for the disappeared; we have done so,” he added.