Special Correspondent :Human Rights bodies and media made it possible. They must not rest after saving only one victim of abduction. The whole nation feels unsafe at the hands of protected killers and abductors.The main weakness of the human rights bodies is that they want to protect human rights with the help of the judiciary. But they do not help democracy by which judiciary becomes strong and independent. They do not appreciate that the best way to protect human rights is democracy. What is most noticeable is that human rights bodies rely on the judiciary for their success, but they say nothing when the judiciary is weakened by politicization making impartial justice most difficult. But the human rights bodies and the media together have proved this time how strong role they can play when political leadership is non-existent for democracy and good governance and corrupt ones and criminals have political protection. In the release of abducted A.B. Siddique, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s intervention was to be considered essential. By all account the abductors are well organized and what is clear from the facts that they moved from here and there freely for three hours in and around Dhaka after the abduction. They had no fear of police catching them. Even before he was released after three days and despite heavy police watch, the abductors moved freely here and there for an hour or so before deciding where to drop him. Abu Bakar Siddique, husband of human right activist and chief of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan, was freed by the abductors 35 hours after his abduction. But neither the abductors could be traced nor the motive behind it could be unearthed till the time of writing this piece. Incidents of abduction, sometimes by persons introducing themselves as members of law enforcing agencies, have been on increase in recent years. In most cases those abducted remain traceless and in some cases their bodies are found. Only a few return alive. The situation has all the indications of state terrorism. Siddique told journalists that he was not tortured by the abductors during his captivity. He said that he could not identify them as he was blindfolded. The question which is being raised is since he has seen the abductors when he was kidnapped on Wednesday afternoon from a place of Fatullah, he should be able to give some idea about the kidnappers. He might have seen some gang members when he was allowed to use wash room. He must have seen them when he was caught and kidnapped. But he has every reason to remain fearful of them when state machinery does not move without Prime Minister’s direct order. The family of Rizwana Hasan is fortunate to get back Siddique alive among them. As the family of Siddique sought help of the Prime Minister for his rescue, so he has been returned alive, some analysts said. It was wise for human rights bodies and NGOs to have sought the Prime Minister’s help for his rescue, they said. It however, remains unclear how Siddique could be left in city’s Mirpur area after driving with him for a couple of hours escaping the notice of the members of law enforcing agencies who have been already alerted by high authorities for his rescue. Deputy Commissioner Maruf Sheikh told the media that a police team from Dhanmondi police station was checking vehicles setting up a check-post near the Kalabagan field shortly after midnight. When they searched a CNG-driven auto-rickshaw in the small hours of Friday, they found a passenger sitting inside it.When asked the identity the passenger introduced himself as abducted businessman Abu Bakar Siddique. The police team then took him to the Dhanmondi police station from where his family members were informed about his rescue. And then Rizwana and other family members rushed to the police station, he said. Abu Bakar Siddique told the police that he could not remember who abducted him and where he was detained but the abductors released him at Ansar Camp area near Mirpur Bangla College from where he boarded the CNG auto-rickshaw.Unidentified miscreants abducted Siddique sending a wave of shock across the country and raising concern about deteriorating law and order situation by human right groups and civil society members. Unfortunately, nothing is heard about the whereabouts of BNP leaders Elias Ali and Chowdhury Alam who were abducted couple of years ago. Those who are kidnapped, in most cases have political connections. Persons having background of opposition parties when abducted, rarely return alive. Meanwhile, there is no tangible progress in unveiling the mystery behind the killing of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi although more than two years have passed since the murder took place at their flat in the city. During the last two months of January and February about 40 people were victims of forced disappearance, reports said adding 53 persons were abducted last year.Those who have been subjected to forced disappearance include political activists,, businessmen, teachers and students. Families of the victims have been passing their days in agonies waiting for return of their near and dear ones. The “missing” people include Singra BNP’s Organising Secretary Ibrahim Khalil and local AL activist Shamsul Islam. In March 2012, Sylhet district Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Dinar and another leader Junaid were picked up in identical manner. They remain traceless till now. A total of 156 persons were reportedly victims of disappearance from 2009 to 2013, ASK said.
