As a “new” Bangladesh emerges, knowing who Kalpana Chakma is becomes crucial in understanding our shared history

Twenty-two years have gone by into the abduction of Kalpana Chakma and still the culprits evade justice, speakers at a programme say.

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman says justice is yet to be served in the Kalpana Chakma case even after 19 years of her disappearance, and the culture of impunity in the society is to be blamed for it.

I never knew Kalpana di – not personally anyway -- the fearless indigenous activist who was snatched away from us by “mysterious” powers-that-be 19 years ago, when she was only 20 years of age.

I first heard about the alleged abduction of Kalpana Chakma just after the incident occurred in June 1996. I was teaching at Dhaka University at that time.