Families of enforced disappearance victims share experiences with US envoy

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas visited missing BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon’s residence in Dhaka on Wednesday morning.

The families of the victims of enforced disappearance shared their painful experiences with Ambassador Haas.

The US Ambassador inquired about condition of families of the victims of enforced disappearances, sources concerned said.

The families alleged that several dozens of ruling Awami League leaders and workers gathered in front of the house of the founder of Mayer Daak at Tejgaon in Dhaka during their meeting with the US envoy. They got frightened due to the presence of the people during sharing their experiences with the American ambassador.

“Several dozens of people gathered in front of our house and we were compelled to cut short the programme,” said Sanjida Islam Tuli, co-founder of Mayer Daak.

It is learnt that the US ambassador went to meet missing Sumon’s sister Ankhi at about 9:00am on Wednesday at their Shaheenbagh residence in the capital. He stayed there about 25 minutes. At that time, he inquired about the family members of the victims of enforced disappearances.Then Ambassador Peter Haas came out of the residence and left the place without talking to the mass media. Nothing was told to the media on behalf of Sumon’s family.

Lisa Johnson, an official of the Bangladesh Desk at the US State Department, was present at that time.