BNP is the biggest victim of extrajudicial killings and disappearances: Tariq Rahman

SM Shah Jalal Saiful

A call for national unity to protect human rights by describing the dark chapter of 16 years

BNP's leaders and workers are the biggest victims of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, deaths in custody and false cases - BNP Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman said that for the last 16 years, Bangladesh was in a state of suffocation under a terrible darkness. He said these things in a long political and human rights statement published on his verified Facebook account on Wednesday.

He said, "Bangladesh was buried under a dark cloud for 16 years. Fear, torture, disappearance - everything became the daily reality of the common people of this country. Opposition political activists suffered the most, and among them BNP leaders and activists were the biggest targets."

"Knock at the door in the dark of night, false case - was a daily fear"

Tariq Rahman said, those who took a stand against the illegal and authoritarian government, their lives were full of terror. Knocking on doors at night, fear of disappearances, false cases—all were part of the state-controlled fear-system.

He noted that thousands of BNP families have waited years for missing loved ones—many of whom never returned.

"BNP is not the only victim of torture; Journalists, students, writers—everyone.”

Tariq Rahman said, this dark era was not imposed only on BNP. Common people including journalists, writers, students, pedestrians have also been victims of human rights violations. From the right of expression to the basic security of civil life—everything was under threat.

'My right to speak was also taken away in 2015'

In the statement, he said, due to government directives, it was forbidden to publish any of his statements in the country since 2015. His speech could not be broadcast in newspapers, television or social media within the country.

Still, he claimed, "Despite this silence, I continued to fight for truth, democracy and human rights. The spirit of truth cannot be suppressed."

Khaleda Zia is described as a symbol of resistanceThe biggest symbol of this difficult time was BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia - Tariq Rahman commented that his mother was a victim of political vendetta, was imprisoned on false charges and was physically harmed. Still he did not deviate from democratic ideals.

"He taught us that the injustices we endured should never happen again," added Tarek.

'Our family was also targeted'

Tariq Rahman said that his family is also a victim of state torture. On the one hand, Khaleda Zia endured the pain of sending him to jail; On the other hand, his other son Arafat Rahman Koko has to lose.

He said - "Like thousands of families in Bangladesh, our family was also a target of torture."

'Pain does not make people bitter; makes it even greater'

Tariq Rahman said the long ordeal has strengthened his and his family's mental strength. Out of this suffering has emerged a new commitment to democracy, justice and human rights.

A call for national unity in the struggle for human rights on Human Rights Day

Highlighting the significance of International Human Rights Day on December 10, Harek Rahman said-
"Human rights are the basic condition of people's daily survival. We remember the stories of many missing and killed people including Abrar Fahad, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ilyas Ali, Sagar-Rooney, Sajedul Islam Sumon — so that impunity does not return in the future."

"BNP does not do revenge politics - we believe in solutions"

He said, BNP is not on the path of conflict or revenge; Rather, it is committed to creating a solution-oriented, human rights-based political environment.

Tariq Rahman promises—
"No citizen of Bangladesh will have to live in fear of the state any longer - whether he is pro-government or anti-government."

"The need is greater than politics - national unity in the protection of human rights"

Finally, calling on the citizens of the country, he said, now is the time to rise above party-opinions and build a human rights-friendly, democratic, fear-free Bangladesh."The people of Bangladesh are now united in their pledge to protect human rights. We must all come forward to establish true democracy."