DHAKA: Families of eight BNP leaders and activists, who are victims of forced missing since December 4, urged the government to return them back.

Forming a human chain in front of the National Press Club Thursday, they said that they were not sure whether the missing BNP leaders and activists are alive or not.

They alleged that plainclothes people, claiming them to be members of law-enforcing agencies and administration, picked them up and since then the BNP leaders and activists are missing.

Human rights activists at a press conference before the human chain program expressed their concern over such incidents.

They asked the government to be serious to rescue the victims of forced missing.

It is the responsibility of the government, they said.

Among the HR activists present at the press conference were Advocate Sultana Kamal, Advocate Swadheen Malik and Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury.

According to the family members, the BNP leaders who were picked up on December 4, are ward no 32 BNP general secretary Sajedul Islam Sumon,  Kawsar and AM Adnan Chowdhury of  Shaheenbagh, Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Masum of East Nakhalpara, Mazharul Islam Russel of West Nakhalpara, Asaduzzaman of Mugda and Al Amin and Zahidul Karim tanveer of North Badda.

BDST: 2151 HRS, APR 24, 2014