The Central President of the Socialist Women’s Forum, Engineer Shampa Basu, and General Secretary Advocate Dilruba Noori have called for a credible investigation and justice in the abduction case of Kalpana Chakma, describing the prolonged failure to resolve the case as a stark example of impunity and state failure.

In a joint statement, the leaders recalled that Kalpana Chakma, then Organizing Secretary of the Hill Women’s Federation, was abducted from her family home in New Lalyaghona village of Rangamati on the night of June 12, 1996. Three decades later, neither a conclusive investigation nor justice has been achieved.

They noted that after the transfer of 33 investigating officers, the 34th investigator submitted a final report in 2010 claiming insufficient evidence. The complainant, Kalpana’s elder brother, challenged the report.

A similar final report was submitted again in 2018, which he also contested. Following multiple hearings, the Rangamati Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered the prosecution to submit necessary documents and directed further proceedings.

However, on April 23, 2024, the court dismissed the complainant’s objection to the final report.

The statement further alleged that Lieutenant Ferdous, identified by the family as a key accused in the abduction, and his associates have never been held accountable and continue to remain beyond the reach of justice.

The women leaders said the failure to ensure justice in Kalpana Chakma’s case represents a serious failure of the state. “The responsibility for this injustice rests with the state itself,” they said.

They also criticized the government for remaining silent on the case despite making various commitments to the public after coming to power through elections following the mass uprising.

The Socialist Women’s Forum demanded the immediate reopening of efforts to ensure a proper investigation and bring those responsible for Kalpana Chakma’s abduction to justice.

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