Complaint filed over enforced disappearance of BNP leader

A complaint was submitted yesterday to the Chief Prosecutor's Office of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) over the enforced disappearance of BNP leader and former Dhaka City Corporation councillor Chowdhury Alam in 2010.

Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, son of the missing politician, lodged the complaint, naming 18 individuals, including former minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, ex-Rab officers Maj Gen (relieved) Ziaul Ahsan, Mohammad Sohail, and the then additional director general (operations) of Rab, Col Mujibur Rahman. Also accused are the former president of the Jubo League's Dhaka Metropolitan South unit, Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, and then-general secretary of Swechhasebak League, Bahauddin Nasim. The complaint also implicates several unidentified individuals.

According to the complaint, Chowdhury Alam, a popular commissioner in the Awami League's central office area, was a potential parliamentary candidate for the Dhaka-10 constituency and a key grassroots organiser of the opposition. It alleges that he was targeted due to being both a political and personal rival of Sheikh Hasina.

The complaint states that Awami League leaders, activists, and supporters, in collusion with the accused Rab officials and their informants, orchestrated Alam's enforced disappearance to eliminate him permanently.

On June 25, 2010, six to seven individuals stopped Alam's car on Indira Road. They forced him into another vehicle, leaving his driver behind, and he has not been seen since.

Following the submission, Abu Sayeed Chowdhury expressed hope for justice.

"We received a complaint from Chowdhury Alam's family today[yesterday] and have forwarded it to the investigation agency," confirmed Tarek Abdullah, an ICT prosecutor.