DHAKA: Columnist Sayed Abul Maksud on Thursday said political criminalization is the main reason for increasing murder, disappearance, abduction in the country and none dare to do this without political favoritism.

He came up with the observation while addressing a roundtable discussion titled ‘Disappearance and Kidnap: Citizens’ Concern and Does” organized by Citizens for Good Governance (Shujan), at the VIP Lounge of National Press Club in the city.

Former caretaker government advisor, and also Shujan president M Hafiz Uddin Khan said, “The country is going through a national crisis; civil society has to the play the role of opposition to face the crisis.”

“But role of the civil society is not enough,” he added.

Former caretaker government SM Shajahan said, “We have been ignoring the murder, disappearance, abduction for long; for this reason it hasn’t been stopped rather has been increased seriously.”

Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Mazumdar presented the key paper at the discussion. 

Citing a report of a national newspaper, he said, “Till April 2014, a total of 282 people were abducted since 2010. Of them, 46 were abducted in 2010, 59 in 2011, 56 in 2012, 68 in 2013 and 53 are abducted till April of 2014.”

Presided over by Shujan secretary Dr badiul Alam Majumdar, former election commissioner Shakhwat Hossain also spoke at the function.

BDST: 1613 HRS MAY 08, 2014