BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, April 20, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said people expect the loopholes and shortcomings of the ordinance related to enforced disappearances to be addressed and a strong law to be enacted.

He made the remarks at a discussion and prayer gathering organized at the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan of the city demanding the discovery of former organizational secretary Elias Ali and his driver, who were victims of enforced disappearance.

Rizvi said, "The country is now moving from a period of hardship towards good times. These good times must not be ensured only for individuals or groups, but for the entire nation."

Regarding the repeal of the ordinance on enforced disappearance, the veteran BNP leader said, "The government has taken this initiative. It has many shortcomings and loopholes. The people of the country want those loopholes and shortcomings to be filled and a strong law to be enacted."

He called upon the government to formulate a strong law so that no future government can use inhumane methods like enforced disappearance.

He further said, "An effective law must be passed in Parliament so that no one gets the opportunity to make political opponents disappear in the future. The people want a clear stance from the government on this issue."

Referring to various government initiatives, Rizvi said that after coming to power, the BNP backed government is taking swift steps to implement its promises. He cited examples such as waiving interest on agricultural loans, distributing family cards and farmer cards.

Regarding the disappeared persons, Rizvi said, many political leaders and activists are still missing. Their whereabouts must be found, and those involved in these incidents must be brought under the law.

"The officials who were involved in disappearances are still in society. They must be identified and interrogated to uncover the truth. The people want to know how, where and why these disappearances happened," he added.

BNP's Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarfat Ali Sapu presided over the event while BNP Joint Secretary-General Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, Co-Organizational Secretary Professor Aminul Islam and other leaders and activists from various levels of the party took part.