Bangladesh to sign international convention on enforced disappearances: Govt

DHAKA:

Bangladesh

’s

interim govt

has decided to sign the “International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance” soon, most likely before Aug 30, an interim govt spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The issue was discussed at the interim govt advisory council meeting led by

chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus

. Yunus’ press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, said the interim govt is committed to investigating each and every case of enforced disappearance.

There is a discussion to form a commission to look into cases of disappearance, he said, adding that they will look at the working of a similar commission in Sri Lanka.
The UNGA had decided to declare Aug 30 the “International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances” to be observed from 2011. The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary has till now communicated only 76 cases of “enforced disappearances” to Bangladesh.
Alam referred to human rights body Odhikar, which has “documented enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings” and cooperated with UN human rights mechanisms in this context.

Alam also said that a national security adviser will be appointed within a few days.
He added that the govt wants to bring back laundered money, including from the UK, and that Prof Yunus has sought support from British high commissioner Sarah Cooke in this regard. The UK envoy has assured Yunus that it will be looked into, Alam said.
Earlier, the British high commissioner and Japanese ambassador separately met Prof Yunus, who sought Japanese financial support to rebuild Bangladesh.