BNP National Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed spoke at a seminar titled 'Unveiling the Tactics of State-Sponsored Crimes Against Humanity' on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances today. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Aug 29, 2025 (BSS) - BNP National Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed today said an attempt is underway to create a rift in the unity formed through the July uprising.

"One side or another is trying to create a rift in the unity among anti-fascist democratic political forces," he said as the chief guest at a seminar titled 'Unveiling the Tactics of State-Sponsored Crimes Against Humanity' on the occasion of International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. 

'Mayer Daak', an organization of relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances, organized the seminar at Bangla Academy. 

Salahuddin Ahmed said, "We, the political parties, are debating and discussing reforms, but a few parties are creating confusion about the election." 

Sharing his experience, he stated, "No new family members of victims of enforced disappearance have joined this meeting today. This is good news. They have expressed hope that future politicians will ensure that no family member of a victim of enforced disappearance ever has to be present at such an event again. This is why we are constantly fighting - the struggle for democracy."

"As a political worker, I can tell you that if the people give us a mandate, Inshallah, we will do everything necessary to prevent and eradicate the culture of enforced disappearances, including formulating and implementing laws,” he added. 

“We are waiting for a Bangladesh where no one will ever have to stand on the streets as a victim of enforced disappearance," he said.

Mentioning that 1,850 people have been victims of enforced disappearance across the country, he said, "This number is still under scrutiny. The number may be slightly more or less at some point. More than 3,000 have been victims of extrajudicial killings. Adding all these, including custodial deaths and political murders, the total number was previously 7,188, and it will now be much higher. The state of Bangladesh has been moving forward in such a horrific situation."

The senior BNP leader said, "Those who did such crimes still have no remorse. Far from admitting their crimes, they are instead labelling those who led the mass uprising as criminals. After all this, will the people of Bangladesh ever invite them back into politics? Will the people of Bangladesh ever forgive them? They haven't even asked for forgiveness! We are waiting for a democratic transition in such a situation."

Regarding the reform proposals, Salahuddin Ahmed said, "We are all discussing and formulating the reforms of the National Unity Commission, and this kind of environment was unimaginable in Bangladesh's past. All political parties and political-social forces have united, demanding a reform of the state structure. We want to rebuild all democratic institutions, including the Election Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the judiciary, and the parliament, in a strengthened way through reforms, and above all, there will be freedom of the press.” 

He also mentioned that the people of Bangladesh have struggled and shed blood for 16 years to exercise their voting rights. "Among many rights, the main demand was to establish the right to vote. When a path has been cleared for the establishment of that right, I urge all political parties not to put any obstacles on this path," he added. 

Salahuddin further said, "We will establish a democratic culture through which people will reject the past fascist political culture. If we can maintain good, ideological, political, and democratic practices, all fascist practices and all history of the past will automatically be washed away."