M Maroof Zaman
BornBangladesh
Allegiance Bangladesh
Service/branch Bangladesh Army
Years of service1978 - 1982
Rank Captain
UnitCorps of Signals
Known forForced disappearance

M Maroof Zaman is a former diplomat and the ambassador of Bangladesh to Vietnam. He was a victim of forced disappearance in Bangladesh.[1] He was a former ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar.[2]

Career

Zaman was commissioned in Bangladesh Army through the 6th Short Course in 1977. He served in the Signal corps and retired, for health reasons, from Bangladesh Army with the rank of captain. In 1982, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He worked as a minister at the Bangladesh High Commission in the United Kingdom. He served as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Vietnam[3][4][5] He has Director General in the Foreign Ministry in charge of West Asia, Central Asia, and Africa. In 2004, he was appointed the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar.[6][7]

Forced disappearance

On 4 December 2017, Zaman was going to the airport to pick up his daughter. He disappeared on the way to the airport. He later called his home from an unknown number and asked his home staff to provide his laptop to a few men who would come to the house. Three men arrived and searched the house. They took away his spare cellphone, camera, and laptop. They also thoroughly searched his room. The men were described as being well built and dressed; with masks and caps covering their faces. His car was found abandoned in Khilkhet. His phone was found switched off later.[3]

Zaman's daughter, Samiha Zaman, filled a General Diary with Bangladesh Police over his disappearance.[8] His daughter campaigned with Mayer Daak, an organisation representing family members of victim of Forced disappearance in Bangladesh, for her father's return.[9][10] Former Ambassadors of Bangladesh expressed concern over his disappearance.[11]

Zaman returned home on 16 March 2019; he was missing for 467 days.[3] Kazi Reazul Hoque, Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission welcomed his return and called for the discovery of the guilty party.[12] His family confirmed his return, refused to provide additional comments, and requested for privacy.[13] A whistleblower investigation by Sweden-based news portal Netra news in 2022 revealed that Zaman may have been secretly detained at Aynaghar, a secret detention facility of Bangladeshi intelligence organization Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Photo albums are all they have". The Daily Star. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  2. ↑ "Qatar keen on hiring more workers". The Daily Star. UNB. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Rabbi, Arifur Rahman (16 March 2019). "Missing former envoy Maroof Zaman returns home after 467 days". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Ex-ambassador Maroof Zaman who went missing 15 months ago returns home". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. ↑ Staff, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2001). The London Diplomatic List. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 6. ISBN 9780115917721.
  6. ↑ "Maroof new envoy to Qatar". The Daily Star. UNB. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Mysterious disappearances: Families anxiously await those who remain missing". Dhaka Tribune. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ex-ambassador to Vietnam Maroof goes missing". banglanews24.com. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "Victims' kin demand effective steps by govt". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Never let go". Dhaka Courier. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "Ex-envoys want Maroof Zaman's safe return". The Daily Star. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "Ex-ambassador Maroof Zaman returns after 467-day disappearance". New Age. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "Missing ex-ambassador Zaman returns home". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Secret prisoners of Dhaka". Netra News — নেত্র নিউজ. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
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