Statement by Humayun Kabir, Secretary General of United for Victims of Enforced Disappearances (UVED), at the Meeting with the Human Rights Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations,

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Statement by Humayun Kabir, Secretary General of United for Victims of Enforced Disappearances (UVED), at the Meeting with the Human Rights Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances,
Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations,
June 15, 2025, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

We hereby emphatically call upon the Government of Bangladesh, the State, all human rights organizations, and the Human Rights Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the United Nations High Commissioner’s Office to urgently and resolutely work towards securing justice for the victims of enforced disappearances.



1. Victims of enforced disappearances have endured relentless and inhumane torture, with many subjected to extrajudicial killings. The families of those who remain missing live in unbearable uncertainty, agonizing over whether their loved ones are alive or dead. Beyond the profound psychological trauma, these families suffer grave financial hardship. Wives and children are denied access to the bank accounts of the disappeared, barred from selling or managing inherited property, and deprived of their rightful inheritance.

2. To alleviate the suffering of these families, we earnestly appeal to the Honorable Chief Adviser, the Legal Affairs Adviser, and the Attorney General to institute special legal provisions. The government must issue official legal certificates to the heirs of the disappeared, granting them full authority to access and manage movable and immovable assets, conduct business, and withdraw funds from financial institutions. We commend the recent directive from the Interim Government’s Chief Adviser mandating urgent action on this matter.

3. Numerous individuals who have returned after enforced disappearance face spurious charges. In their legal struggles, many have been financially devastated, some remain unjustly imprisoned, and convictions have been secured in certain cases through coerced or fabricated testimonies. We demand the immediate release of these individuals and appropriate compensation for the grave injustices they have suffered.

4. Most critically, we must confront the question: Why has justice for enforced disappearances not commenced? Many perpetrators remain active or former members of various security forces and must be promptly arrested and brought to account under the rule of law. The continued impunity of these actors deeply tarnishes the credibility of our law enforcement agencies. Justice delayed is justice denied; therefore, the judicial process must be initiated without further delay.

5. We call for the repeal of all repressive laws enacted during Sheikh Hasina’s regime. The fascist government weaponized legislation such as the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Special Powers Act to legitimize enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, consolidating its authoritarian grip.To the Interim Government, we urgently demand:

6. The immediate acquittal of all individuals convicted under the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act of 2009 (as amended in 2012 and 2013), which flagrantly violates the Constitution and fundamental human rights.

7. The permanent repeal of the Special Powers Act, 1974, a draconian statute that has sanctioned enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, and is rightly condemned as a black law of repression and coercion.

8. Amendment or repeal of Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC), along with the abolition of all other repressive legislation.

9. Full implementation of the "Prevention of Torture and Custodial Death Act," alongside Bangladesh’s ratification and signing of the United Nations’ Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (CAT).

10. Enactment of a comprehensive Victim and Witness Protection Act to ensure the safety and security of victims and witnesses.

11. Passage of a dedicated domestic law to immediately halt all enforced disappearances.

12 .Swift establishment of multiple special tribunals to expedite the prosecution and trial of cases involving enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

13. Provision of suitable employment, financial support, and other essential assistance to all individuals who have returned alive from enforced disappearance.

14. Immediate, free, and comprehensive medical treatment for survivors and family members suffering from severe psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

15. Rehabilitation, financial aid, medical support, and free education for the children and families of victims of enforced disappearances must be prioritized and implemented without delay.

16. The poisonous tree of misrule planted and nurtured by the fascist Sheikh Hasina must be uprooted, and the entire political establishment restructured. There must never again be any Sheikh Hasina or member of the Sheikh family involved in the country’s politics. No monstrous forces should ever rise to oppress the people. Citizens must no longer be forced to fight for freedom of speech or their fundamental constitutional rights. The rulers must serve, not oppress.

Furthermore, I demand that in cases filed by victims for crimes against humanity, the State act as the plaintiff and lead the legal proceedings. This is imperative because the accused parties, including the Sheikh Hasina family, possess immense wealth—amassing and transferring countless billions abroad—that allows them to hire elite legal counsel domestically and internationally. Victims lack the financial means to sustain such costly legal battles.

We hold a firm expectation that enforced disappearances in Bangladesh will be permanently abolished and that good governance, democracy, and the protection of human rights will be firmly established.

Thank you All.

Humayun Kabir,
Secretary General of United for Victims of Enforced Disappearances (UVED).
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