BNP secretary general of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir broke down in tears again on Tuesday, as he witnessed the crying children of the victims of enforced disappearance mostly belonging to the party at a human chain programme in the city.
Mirza Fakhrul could no longer keep his emotions in check when missing Bansghal thana unit Chhatra Dal leader Sohail's little daughter Safa and Paltan thana Chhatra Dal unit leader Parvez Raza’s daughter Hridi were narrating their pain.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Family members, including kids, of many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, who have been subjected to enforced disappearance, also spoke at the programme.
They narrated the ordeals and mental trauma they are going through losing their near and dear ones and called upon the government to take steps for bringing the missing people back to their families.
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In a tearful voice, Safa said, “They (law enforcers) have taken away my father. I have never seen my father. I wish to see my father but I can't see him.”
She continued, "When I go to school, my friends come with their fathers. They ask me why my father does not come. I can't give them any reply. Please, return my father. I want to see my father."
Hridi said she has long been waiting to see her father. At one stage she directly addressed whoever Parvez Raza's captors might be and insisted: "Give me back my papa, please give me back my papa."
Screaming uncontrollably, Hridi said, "I want to hang out with my Papa, but I can’t do this. I feel pain as I can’t see him. Please, return my papa. No one tells me when my papa will come."
Fakhrul could not hold back his tears during the speeches of Safa and Hridi. It was seen that he took out a handkerchief from his pocket repeatedly to wipe his tears.
Tears were seen rolling down the cheeks of many other BNP leaders and activists as the two kids were screaming to get their missing fathers back.
Apart from Hridi and Safa, missing Saifur Rahman Sajib's father Shafikur Rahman, Salim Reza Pintu's sister Nadi, Sajedul Islam Samun's sister Sanjida Islam Tuli also spoke at the programme describing their sorrows and pains.
Over a hundred family members of the enforced disappearance victims participated in the programme carrying photos of their loved ones.
Several thousand BNP leaders and activists stood in a line on one side of the road from Fakirapool Intersection to the Nightingale Crossing, protesting the incidents of enforced disappearance.
They also carried various placards demanding an end to disappearances, extrajudicial killings and political persecution.
In the programme, BNP workers also staged enactments of scenes showing how state agencies execute enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.