ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE:

AN UNDEFINED CRIME IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Enforced disappearance is regarded as State sponsored heinous crime which emerged recently in Bangladesh. Political oppositions and differing people are the main target of forced disappearance; however, civilians are also victim of this offence. Most of the incidents are unsolved and law enforcing agencies repeatedly denied their involvement with this. United Nations has adopted an International Convention to eliminate the offence from the planet. Some other international conventions are also treated it as crime against humanity. The principal aim of this research article is to scrutinize and analyze the socio-legal aspects of forced disappearance and is to suggest a way forward to overcome the circumstance. To achieve the aim, this paper will closely examine legal status of enforced disappearance’ in domestic as well as global perspective and will draw a conclusion to prevent this. However, no criminal laws of Bangladesh have yet recognized forced disappearance as offence albeit now it is a reality in Bangladesh. Nevertheless, right to life is one of the key fundamental rights guaranteed under Bangladesh constitution which is violated by continuous occurring of this crime. It has huge impact on victim’s family as well as on the whole society. Hence, Bangladesh needs to be a state party of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance immediately and needs to legislate a new law to prevent any sort of state sponsored crime to stop further consequences. Otherwise, present illegal practice of forced disappearance will bring massive consequences for the whole nation.