Kalpana Chakma abduction is shame to nation: activists

Rights activists on Saturday termed the enforced disappearance of Kalpana Chakma a shame to the nation and called for proper investigation into the matter and punishment for the perpetrators.
At a views exchange programme organised by Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights marking 20 years of the abduction of Hill Women’s Federation leader Kalpana Chakma, they expressed concern over increasing violence, killing, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings in the name of crossfire and targeted killings of minorities and free-thinkers in the country.
On June 12, 1996, Kalpana was abducted by Lieutenant Ferdous from her house at New Lalyaghona of Baghaichari in Rangamati several hours before the seventh national elections, said Kalpana’s elder brother Kalindi Kumar Chakma, also a witness to the abduction.
It is a shame to the nation that neither the mystery of the abduction has ever been cracked nor has anyone asserted in the past 20 years if she is alive, said rights activist Shireen Huq, a member of the committee that held the programme at the National Press Club.
Jurist Sara Hossain, also a committee member, said that Kalpana’s abduction was one of the sensational abductions in the post-liberation period. ‘There are drawbacks in the investigation into the abduction’ she said.
Sara also demanded ensuring security for two brothers of Kalpana engaged in legal battle for justice for the abduction of their sister.
‘Investigation into the abduction of Kalpana Chakma has been going on for 20 years but we are yet to get a concrete report,’ said rights activist Nur Khan, also a committee member, adding, ‘we came to know about connections of the Army and border guards with the abduction of Kalpana.’
He said that abduction, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killing continued in the country. At least 10 people became victim of extrajudicial killings in the name of crossfire in the past one week and about 100 people fell victim to enforced disappearance in one year.
Jurist Shahdeen Malik, also a committee member, said that violence, killing, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance and targeted killings were on the rise. ‘It is a matter of great concern that punishment for the perpetrators is almost absent and the way the government is running the country, a sense of insecurity amongst people is increasing’
He identified lack of democratic practice in political parties, police busyness providing security to government high ups forgetting their duty to ensure safety of the people and wholesale curt orders remanding people in police custody as the major barriers to the establishment of the rule of law.
He called for a national dialogue to end the current stalemate of the country.
Only economic development cannot ensure a violence-free, stable country. Economic condition of Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Nigeria are much better than Bangladesh but they are facing high prevalence of violent activities, he said.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net