Legal adviser Asif Nazrul said today the government was committed to ensuring trials for crimes involving enforced disappearances and was considering rehabilitation and compensation for victims.

He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the 8th Congress of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), organized in collaboration with rights organization Odhikar, at a hotel in Gulshan.

Adilur Rahman Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Industries, and Md Asaduzzaman, Attorney General of Bangladesh, also spoke at the event chaired by CR Abrar, Chairman of Odhikar. Delegations from countries including Indonesia, the Philippines and Pakistan, as well as some family members of the victims, were also present at the event.

Speaking on the show, Asif Nazrul said, “I have always been with you on the road for many days, in many events. “Teacher,” “minister”—these are all “disguised” identities; but the most meaningful identity is that we are all human. You who bring photos of sons (victims of enforced disappearance), I too have a child. I wonder what would happen to me if my child disappeared forever. What would happen to my wife if. Did I disappear?

“Those who order these ‘forced disappearances,’ those who carry them out, I believe we should bring their families to these events. Let them see what their fathers, their children and their brothers have done,” the legal adviser said .

Asif Nazrul said enforced disappearance is a crime worse than murder.

“When someone is killed, there is a corpse, as tragic as it is; but with enforced disappearances, there is an interminable wait. We don’t know if he is alive or dead.”

Asif Nazrul said they were determined to ensure the trial.

“There could be coordination between the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and the International Criminal Court. The information we obtained through this commission could be useful in the conduct of the trial,” he said.

“Maroof bhai (ex-ambassador M Maroof Zaman, also a victim of enforced disappearance) has expressed his expectations regarding rehabilitation and compensation, which is not new to me. We will definitely consider rehabilitation and compensation. “

Asif Nazrul said they would help human rights defenders.

“Our position does not matter; we will support each other.”

Adilur Rahman Khan said ensuring justice was the top priority, not only for victims of enforced disappearances, but also for all those who suffered under the “brutal fascist regime” over the past 15 and a half years.