🇧🇩 UN investigation into enforced disappearances /deaths of students/citizens at the hands of security agencies

[Saif]

'Strong indications that security forces used unnecessary force on protesters'
Says UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk

Star file photo

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said today there are strong indications that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response during the students' demonstrations in Bangladesh.

These warranted further investigation, he said.

"Additional, alleged violations, that also warrant thorough, impartial and transparent investigations, included extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, and severe restrictions on exercise of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly," he said.

All those responsible for human rights violations, including those who used or ordered the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, must be held to account and victims provided reparations and effective remedies, he added.

Turk made the statement as the UN Human Rights Office issued a preliminary report on the protests and unrest in the country in recent weeks that forced the resignation of the Awami League government on August 5.

Then, an interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus was formed on August 8.

On August 14, the High Commissioner made a phone call to Yunus and announced a team would visit Dhaka next week to explore areas in which the UN Human Rights Office can support the transition.

The team will also discuss the modalities for an investigation into human rights violations in the context of the recent violence and unrest.

"We stand in solidary with the people of Bangladesh at this time and are committed to supporting the interim government for a successful transition that is inclusive and advances the rights of all the people in Bangladesh," said Türk.

The transition in Bangladesh was an historic opportunity to ensure governance is anchored in human rights, inclusivity and rule of law, stressing the need for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and violence, he added.

"Accountability for violations and justice for the victims are key for the way forward, and will need to be accompanied by a national healing process," Türk said.

"A comprehensive, impartial and transparent investigation into all human rights violations and abuses that have occurred will be a critical first step."

He said security forces committed serious human rights violations, with hundreds of people believed to have been killed – including at least 32 children – and thousands injured.

Following the resignation of the Government on 5 August, there were also reports of looting, arson and attacks on members of religious minorities, as well as reprisals against and revenge killings of members of the former ruling party and police.

On 15 August, mobs armed with bamboo sticks, iron rods and pipes reportedly assaulted supporters of the former Prime Minister. Journalists were also reportedly attacked and threatened preventing them from filming at the scenes, the report said.

The report emphasises the importance of rapidly restoring law and order, and the need for effective measures to prevent further loss of life, violence and acts of reprisals.

"Law enforcement agencies need to receive clear instructions and training on the use of force, in line with international human rights standards. They must protect populations at risk against any retaliatory or revenge violence, including minority communities."

The High Commissioner welcomed the initiative by various student organisations, faith leaders and other people forming groups to protect minorities and religious sites belonging to minority communities.

Türk welcomed the release of thousands of detainees and longer-term political prisoners – including some victims of enforced disappearance – and urged the release of all those arbitrarily detained.

The report also called for a systematic approach to vetting for any appointments and dismissals to the judiciary, security sector and other institutions.​

 

[Saif]

UN urges all political actors to refrain from reprisals against opponents

The UN human rights office has urged all political actors in Bangladesh to refrain from reprisals against political opponents of all viewpoints and uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly

www.thedailystar.net

UN urges all political actors to refrain from reprisals against opponents

The UN human rights office has urged all political actors in Bangladesh to refrain from reprisals against political opponents of all viewpoints and uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

"Prioritise de-escalation and prevent any further loss of life or injury," said the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in its set of recommendations to all political actors.

In its report titled "Preliminary Analysis of Recent Protests and Unrest in Bangladesh" the UN rights body urged the political actors to ensure protection of minority communities and refrain from any language or acts of incitement to hatred, discrimination or violence.

The UN body also asked them to actively denounce any human rights violations or abuses, in particular, those committed by their own members or supporters, and advocate for measures to ensure accountability and prevent further violations and abuses.

In its recommendations to the international community, the UN rights body asked them to support Bangladesh to ensure a transition in which human rights are fundamental.

It also sought support from the international community for the fact-finding and accountability efforts to ensure remedies for victims and broader institutional and security sector reforms.

The rights body sought support from the OHCHR in providing assistance to the interim government for the protection of human rights through the transition period.

The interim recommendations were made in order to address the present situation in the country that has resulted from the demonstrations and events detailed in this report.

However, long-term comprehensive legal and institutional reforms will be needed, said the UN rights body.​

 

[Saif]

UN team will visit Dhaka soon to discuss areas of support, modalities for investigation of human rights violations

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is committed to supporting the Interim Government and people of Bangladesh in a successful transition that strengthens the protection of human rights, says a spokesperson. A team will visit Dhaka soon to discuss areas of support and the modali

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

UN team will visit Dhaka soon to discuss areas of support, modalities for investigation of human rights violations
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Aug 17, 2024 20:42
Updated :
Aug 17, 2024 20:45

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is committed to supporting the Interim Government and people of Bangladesh in a successful transition that strengthens the protection of human rights, says a spokesperson.

A team will visit Dhaka soon to discuss areas of support and the modalities for an investigation of human rights violations in the context of the recent violence and unrest, said the Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq at a regular briefing in New York on August 16, reports UNB.

Volker Türk, and the country's interim government’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus discussed a "comprehensive range" of support that the UN Human Rights Office could provide to the Interim Government and the transition, including on accountability issues.​

 

[Bilal9]

UN special rapporteur Irene Khan explains at the end of the TLDR explanation on how the UN will investigate the crimes committed during the student revolution by Hasina.

 

[Saif]

Nahid seeks UN assistance for probe into human rights violations in student-people movement

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam has sought the assistance of the United Nations (UN) for the proper investigation into the human rights violations that took place during the student-people movement. He sought the assistance when a delegation of the UN High Commissioner for Human R

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Nahid seeks UN assistance for probe into human rights violations in student-people movement
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Aug 25, 2024 19:00
Updated :
Aug 25, 2024 19:00

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam has sought the assistance of the United Nations (UN) for the proper investigation into the human rights violations that took place during the student-people movement.

He sought the assistance when a delegation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights led by its Asia-Pacific Region Chief Rory Mungoven paid a joint courtesy call on Nahid and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain at the Youth and Sports Ministry office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday, BSS reports citing a press release.

Nahid, also posts, telecommunications and information technology adviser, said, "We have achieved our independence through many sacrifices with the support of people from all walks of life".

This uprising has created some commitments toward the people of the country, he said, adding, "We are working for fulfilling those promises."

Simultaneously, efforts are being made to maintain national unity by upholding the spirit of the mass uprising, Nahid said.

He said the interim government is giving priority to three key areas- reforming the state structure, providing rehabilitation and long-term benefits to the families of those injured or killed in the movement, and ensuring justice through proper investigations against those involved in the killings during the movement.

"We are grateful to the UN and human rights organizations for standing beside us throughout the time of movement. We had previously informed them about the previous government's plan of carrying out crackdown (on the demonstrators), which was later proved," Nahid said.

"We through a proper investigation under the UN want to inform the whole world about what happened in Bangladesh during this movement. The global community should know how brutal the previous Awami League government was towards the protesting students and the people", he added.​

 

[Saif]

Fakhrul calls for UN-led probe into cases of enforced disappearance

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today urged the interim government to initiate an investigation under the United Nations into incidents of enforced disappearances that have plagued Bangladesh over the past 15 years

www.thedailystar.net

Fakhrul calls for UN-led probe into cases of enforced disappearance

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today urged the interim government to initiate an investigation under the United Nations into incidents of enforced disappearances that have plagued Bangladesh over the past 15 years.

Speaking at a solidarity meeting, he also called upon the government to take steps to provide allowances to each family of the victims of enforced disappearance.

"I have been in politics for a long time...I knew about arrests and killings, but we were not aware of enforced disappearances. Since the Awami League came to power, their law enforcement agencies have used state power to commit such heinous crimes against humanity," the BNP leader said.

He appreciated that the current government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, has signed the UN convention against enforced disappearances.

"It is also encouraging that, for the first time in Bangladesh, a team from the UN has arrived to take steps against the misdeeds committed by the (Sheikh Hasina's) autocratic regime," he said.

Fakhrul said this is an initial fact-finding UN team which will investigate the killings that have occurred over the past two months,

"I urge the government to engage with the UN Human Rights Commission to investigate all the crimes against humanity, killings, and enforced disappearances that have occurred over the past 15 years. If the interim government makes this request, the UN will certainly do it," he said.

The BNP leader thanked the interim government for forming a five-member commission to find out forcibly disappeared people by the law enforcement agencies. "It's a good step. But I also urge the government to ensure that allowances are provided to every family of the victims of enforced disappearance."

Justifying his call for providing allowances, Fakhrul said many families are enduring significant hardship, struggling to support themselves, raise their children, and provide them with education. "It is the state's duty to support these families. Even as we enjoy democracy, the children of those who have disappeared will never get their parents back, and those who have lost their husbands will never be reunited with them. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the state to take care of these families."

Expressing solidarity with the pain and suffering of the families of the victims of enforced disappearances, the BNP leader said these families have long been sharing their distress. "When a child like Safa says, 'I want to walk down the street holding my father's hand and I want to go to Eid prayers with him,' as a father, I cannot bear to witness such a pin."

He said the state must restore the rights of the families of those who have been subjected to enforced disappearances and ensure justice for them. "We know the identities of those responsible for these disappearances. We need to find and hold accountable those who were in positions of authority, such as members of the RAB and special police units, and ensure they are punished."

Fakhrul questioned why the dangerous individuals involved in enforced disappearances have not been arrested. "It pains us to see political leaders being detained, yet not a single person involved in murder, torture, or enforced disappearances has been arrested."

He expressed hope that the perpetrators of the incidents of enforced disappearance will be arrested and punished soon. "We must work towards transforming Bangladesh into a genuinely accountable democratic state."

In observance of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, a solidarity meeting was held in front of the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan to remember the victims.

During the meeting, family members of those who have disappeared, from BNP and its affiliated organizations, expressed their deep anguish in moving terms, prompting thousands of leaders and activists to show their solidarity with tears.

Earlier in the morning, 'Mayer Dak,' a platform representing the families of the disappeared, organized a human chain at the Central Shaheed Minar. The event saw participation from human rights activists, politicians, lawyers, and relatives of the missing.​

 

[Saif]

How could we have descended to such depravity?

Extrajudicial killings and disappearances should never reappear

www.thedailystar.net

How could we have descended to such depravity?
Extrajudicial killings and disappearances should never reappear

Illustration: Biplob Chakroborty

We congratulate Prof Yunus's government for joining the UN treaty on enforced disappearances. We also welcome the formation, last Tuesday, of an inquiry commission to investigate extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances and to report within 45 days. Headed by a retired high court judge, the commission will investigate the activities of the police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch (SB), National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the military's Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). Instead of working for the protection of the state, government, or society, these intelligence agencies became extensions of the government's policy of quelling dissent, obliterating the opposition and controlling the independent media.

This is one of the most urgent, important and pro-people initiative that the interim government could have taken, and we congratulate the relevant adviser or advisors for this initiative. We, from the media and this particular newspaper, wish the commission resounding success. We need not only to do justice to the victims but also ensure that it does not reoccur.

It is the latter task that engages us more. The practice of using security agencies to extend ruling party domination and especially to destroy the opposition is, sadly, not something that was started by Awami League. Although it can be said to have reached its zenith with the widespread practice of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing under Sheikh Hasina's rule, it began with the entry of the armed forces into direct politics when Bangabandhu was assassinated. We know for a fact that when BNP was being organised in the late seventies, several security agencies were used to cajole, convince and compel politicians and civil society members to join it. This was followed by Gen Ershad's nearly decade-long rule, during which he also used them to form his party and control the opposition. We all expected that this notorious practice would cease with the restoration of democracy and representative government in 1991.

Regrettably, this practice continued under the elected governments of both BNP and AL, reaching its most ignominious apex in the attempted assassination of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 21, 2004, in which security agencies were clearly and elaborately involved. A total of 23 people, including the head of AL's women wing, were killed.

Thus, over the last three decades—since 1991, when we expected transparent, people-centred politics to replace behind-the-scenes manipulation—the involvement of security agencies increased in proportion to the political leadership of the day losing public trust. Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule stands as a lesson in how a political party of AL's legacy, reach and organisation became increasingly dependent on security agencies. This dependency included allowing them into the inner workings of party operations, such as vetting candidates for nearly all tiers of the party, to the extent that aspiring leaders at the union and district levels sought the blessings of security agencies to achieve their ambitions.

Many factors contributed to Sheikh Hasina's downfall, but perhaps the most heart-wrenching was, especially after 2010, the practice of picking people up from their homes and streets and then making them disappear for months or years without the slightest need to inform anyone—including their families—about their fate. Sometimes, their dead bodies would appear in the most unlikely places. Sometimes, they would return home but remain silent for fear of further repercussions. But most often, they would just disappear for weeks, months, or years, never to return.

Just imagine the agony of their loved ones. Death, however cruel, draws the curtain on a tragedy. But disappearances represent a continuous suffering mixed with hope that one day the family will open the door and find their loved one—father, husband, son, friend—miraculously returned. Each knock on the door became both a flicker of hope and a sense of deep disappointment. Imagine this going on for years.

One of the fundamental responsibilities of a modern state is to ensure the safety of life and property—we are leaving aside the question of liberty for the moment. This assurance was not provided in Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina's regime, especially since 2010. According to Odhikar, a human rights organisation that maintained a well verified record of disappearances—despite facing significant challenges, including jailing of its chief, who is now an advisor in Prof Yunus's cabinet—there were a total of 708 victims of enforced disappearances between 2009 and June 2024. Of these 708 victims, 57 percent returned alive, 13 percent were found dead and nothing has been known about the remaining 30 percent. The practice of "picking up" victims from homes or streets was carried as follows: 31 percent by Rab, 30 percent by the Detective Branch (DB), 22 percent by DGFI (mostly accompanied by Rab) and 14 percent by the police.

According to a report by Zyma Islam, published on August 30, 2022, at least 522 individuals became victims of enforced disappearances between 2009 and 2018. Most survivors who returned home never spoke about their experiences for fear of reliving their hellish ordeals. However, a few who did speak confirmed our worst fears. One said, "They attached two crocodile clips to my two ear lobes and when switched on, sent electric shock damaging my eardrums during interrogation." Another said his hands were cuffed behind his back throughout his detention, which varied from two months to two and a half years. According to the detainees, the cells were 2.5 feet wide, 4 feet long and 5 feet high—too small to lie down or stand up. It was always half-sitting or half-lying. Such cruelty resembles medieval torture. Despite being underground, dark and without windows, the detainees were blindfolded throughout their captivity, except for basic needs and showers.

The stories of "Aynaghar" (House of Mirrors) represent another level of torture and cruelty that we have recently been exposed to. These constitute gross violations of human rights and reveal the existence of secret prisons that are completely unmonitored and devoid of legal oversight. They were run totally arbitrarily and at the whims of their officers. A retired army officer and a Supreme Court lawyer were kept in such secret prisons for eight years and would likely have remained there if not for the fall of the regime. Mikel Changma, a leader from the Chattogram Hill Tracks area, did not see sunlight for five years (2019-2024) of his confinement.

While the inquiry commission on disappearances is expected to reveal its report within 45 days, immediate steps should be taken to allow families and rights activists to visit all 23 prisons that the DGFI has committed to opening to the public. All those who have been cruelly and illegally detained must be returned to their families immediately.

We must never fall into such depths of cruelty and inhumanity again. Enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings are a shame on our dreams from the Liberations War and must be eradicated forever. Too much power and arbitrariness have been allowed to security agencies in the name of fighting extremism. We hope the commission will lay down a clear legal framework so that nobody is made to suffer as we saw in the last 15 years.

Mahfuz Anam is the editor and publisher of The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Touhid reaffirms internationally credible probe into recent massacre

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain has reaffirmed the interim government's commitment to conducting an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the recent Bangladesh massacre and ensuring that due judicial processes are followed.

en.prothomalo.com

Touhid reaffirms internationally credible probe into recent massacre
BSS Dhaka
Updated: 31 Aug 2024, 18: 37

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain attends OIC's 50th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Cameroon. BSS

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain has reaffirmed the interim government's commitment to conducting an impartial and internationally credible investigation into the recent Bangladesh massacre and ensuring that due judicial processes are followed.

He made the remark while highlighting the events leading to the second revolution through a mass uprising of people led by the valiant students in Bangladesh at the OIC's 50th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Cameroon.

The foreign adviser led a two-member Bangladesh delegation at the CFM held in Cameroon's capital Yaound, from 29-30 August, a foreign ministry's press release said here today, Saturday.

During the CFM, Hossain informed the meeting on Bangladesh's accession to the UN Convention on Protection for all persons from enforced disappearance.

He reiterated Bangladesh's continued engagements with the OIC and strong commitment to establish peace process for Palestine, denounce Islamophobia, hate-crimes against Muslims.

The foreign adviser also said Dhaka is keen to engage in further trade and investment with the OIC member states by strengthening the Bangladesh's transportation and communication infrastructure.

This year, the CFM was held with the theme "Intra OIC transportation and communication infrastructure" where several political, economic, social, cultural and security issues were discussed.

A resolution namely 'Situation of the Rohingya Muslim Community in Myanmar' has been adopted unanimously to keep the momentum in exerting continuous pressure on Myanmar authorities.

Foreign adviser Hossain also had a call-on with his counterparts of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on the sidelines of the CFM.

Meanwhile, on 29 August, an Open-ended Meeting of the OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against the Rohingyas was also held on the margin of the CFM.

The foreign adviser highlighted the current situation in the Rakhine State and urged all to maintain international pressure on Myanmar for a quick solution to the problem.​

 

[Saif]

UN fact-finding team calls for first-hand info on human rights violations during July-August movement

At the invitation of the interim government, a UN Human Rights Office fact-finding team is conducting an independent investigation into alleged human rights violations centring the student-led protests and its fallout

www.thedailystar.net

UN fact-finding team calls for first-hand info on human rights violations during July-August movement

The fact-finding team of the UN Human Rights Office have invited individuals, groups, and organisations to provide first-hand information, that is not already in the public domain, of human rights violations and abuses committed between July 1 and August 15.

Submissions should be sent to OHCHR-FFTB-Submissions@un.org, said a press release.

At the invitation of the interim government, a UN Human Rights Office fact-finding team is conducting an independent investigation into alleged human rights violations centring the student-led protests and its fallout.

The fact-finding team is mandated to establish facts, identify responsibilities, analyse root causes, and make concrete recommendations for Bangladesh to address past human rights violations and prevent their recurrence, a press release said here today.

The team also plans to conduct interviews with victims, law enforcement officers, medical practitioners, and witnesses.

The fact-finding is not a criminal investigation and is conducted independently of any national criminal justice process.

The fact-finding process is strictly confidential. The team will not be conducting any media interviews during the investigation phase. We appeal for respect for the confidentiality of the fact-finding process.

After its on-site examination and data analysis, the UN Human Rights Office will publish a detailed human rights report containing key findings, conclusions, and recommendations.​

 

[Saif]

Plea seeks probe into allegations of enforced disappearance in 15 yrs

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday received a plea seeking a probe into allegations of enforced disappearance, which took place in the last 15 years in the country

www.thedailystar.net

Plea seeks probe into allegations of enforced disappearance in 15 yrs

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday received a plea seeking a probe into allegations of enforced disappearance, which took place in the last 15 years in the country.

Enamul Kabir, a businessman who himself was allegedly a victim of enforced disappearance, filed the plea with the ICT prosecution wing.

"Kabir was picked up from his Basabo office on November 17, 2018, by detective branch (DB) of police. He had been kept confined at DB office with his hands and legs tied at the order of the then officer Moshiur. Ultimately on November 26, a fake explosive case was filed against him," chief prosecutor Advocate Tajul Islam said.

The chief prosecutor further said complainant also accused 25, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in his plea.​

 

[Saif]

Police didn't follow int'l standards while using lethal weapons: IGP

Police failed to adhere to the standards in home, which they have maintained during their UN missions, Mainul Islam said

www.thedailystar.net

Police didn't follow int'l standards while using lethal weapons: IGP

Mainul Islam

Inspector General of Police Mainul Islam today said international standards were not followed during the use of lethal weapons by police.

Police failed to adhere to the standards in home, which they have maintained during their UN missions, he said replying to journalists at the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) headquarters.

"We are working on the issue," he added.

After hours-long closed-door meeting at the CMP headquarters, he briefed the media around 6:00pm, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent.

Earlier in the morning, the IGP arrived in the port city and chaired a meeting with senior officials of the Chittagong Range Police at the district police lines in Halishahar.

When asked about police reforms, the IGP responded, "Reforming police is a lengthy process which requires a lot of time. It is a mammoth task. We are having discussions on this issue. Besides the interim government reform committee, police also formed a committee of its own for reform based on a 11-point demand raised by policemen."

"In the reform, we want to emphasise one point which is the use of lethal weapons by police. International standards were not followed in using lethal weapons. Although our police officers maintain such standards when participating in UN missions, this was not done here," he said.

The IGP further said, "After August 5, we changed our course of training emphasising on 'soft skills' to improve public-police relations. We are focussing on areas like communication and attitude, so that police can be recognised as a force for the mass people."

He added, "Each death, whether of a police officer, student, or civilian, will be fairly investigated. In the mass protests, 44 police were killed and around 2,500 others were injured. The police officers who lost their lives will be honored through the works of police in the future."

The IGP said a vested quarter has tried to instigate violence in the CHT by spreading rumours, taking the opportunity of misunderstanding between the hill tribes and Bangali settlers.

The IGP also assured, "We will take all necessary measures to ensure the festive mood for celebrating the puja joyfully and peacefully."

He mentioned, "So far, we have recovered around 75 percent of looted weapons [238 weapons] in joint operations."

Mentioning that police do not have direct involvement in cases, the IGP said, "Not only journalists but also police members were sued in cases. Compared to journalists, a significantly higher number of police officers have been named as accused. Border Guard Bangladesh, deputy commissioners, and divisional commissioners have also been sued in the cases."

"Those who file the cases are part of our society. The cases would have been stronger and easy to investigate if the true culprits or criminals were mentioned in the FIRs. We have instructed police to verify and scrutinise complaints before recording them at the stations. We have formed separate investigation committees. We are collecting, scrutinising, and analysing case data," the IGP added.​

 

[Saif]

All killings, rights abuses must be probed

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk yesterday said perpetrators of all human rights violations before and after August 5 must be tried.

www.thedailystar.net

All killings, rights abuses must be probed
Volker Turk says about crimes committed before, after Aug 5

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk yesterday said perpetrators of all human rights violations before and after August 5 must be tried.

"It is not acceptable to have mob justice of any kind and that's why you need the rule of law. Because otherwise, violence begets violence as we see in so many situations around the world," he told reporters at a city hotel at the end of his two-day visit to Bangladesh.

He was referring to the people killed before and after the fall of the Awami League government in early August.

Hundreds of people were killed during the mass uprising that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. But after she fled to India, many people, including police and Awami League activists, were killed in retaliation. Besides, there were attacks on minority communities.

A UN fact-finding mission is currently investigating the human rights violations that took place between July 1 and August 15.

During his visit, Turk held meetings with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, advisers, civil society members, UN officials, diplomats and Dhaka University students who took part in the July protests.

At least 1,695 murder cases, including 75 against high profile politicians and businesspeople linked to the Awami League, have been filed since the formation of the interim government on August 8.

Many of the cases were filed under the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act, which has a provision of death penalty.

During his meetings with the advisers, Turk said there were issues in the ICT law that needed compliance with international human rights standards.

"Killings, all killings need to be investigated. That's what human rights demand, because we cannot allow killings to happen with impunity," Turk said.

Bangladesh needs to establish justice, truth and reconciliation, he said, adding that he was visiting the country to see how his office could provide support to the government during the transition process.

About the government decision that no cases would be filed against people who worked to make the mass uprising a success, he said killings should be properly investigated irrespective of the identity of the perpetrators.

Referring to the large number of cases, he said, "We cannot have the filing of cases on charges that are not properly done and it is therefore extremely important to resolve this and there is a commission set up precisely to address this issue.

"It is important in such a period that we don't repeat the past, that justice is properly served ... which means cases are properly investigated and charges are brought against precisely those who have committed crimes and they are also entitled to fair trial."

About the ban on Bangladesh Chhatra League under the anti-terrorism law, he said, "The world has seen the consequences of the so-called global anti-terrorism campaign …. Often, people who opposed the authorities were labelled as terrorists.

"We often see labelling of the terrorists to stifle the dissent. It is important to learn lessons from this country in the way terrorism label was used to stifle the dissent."

The UN fact-finding mission is investigating the attacks on the minorities after August 5.

"Protection of minorities is absolutely key. It is part of the human rights framework. We need to ensure that the reported attacks against minorities are investigated.

"There is also a lot of misinformation and disinformation, which is [why it is] all the more important to go to the facts, to identify the perpetrators."

The situation in Bangladesh is unique and unprecedented, he said, adding that human rights and social justice are the core demands of the youth.

"Despite the grief and sense of loss, there is palpable hope that this time, through this transition, things will be different. Thus, this time, there must be justice, reforms must be sustainable and durable, so that the abusive practices of the last decades are not repeated."

He proposed setting up an office of the UN Human Rights Office here to support the transition and promote human rights in areas where reforms are being made.

After meeting Turk, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain told a press briefing that the government was examining the UN proposal to set up its office in Bangladesh.

Turk welcomed the steps to repeal the Cyber Security Act, and to withdraw old cases of speech crimes under this law and the Digital Security Act.

Women are at the heart of social justice movements, including the protests in July, and they must be at the forefront during the transition and beyond. The participation of ethnic and religious minorities and indigenous peoples is also crucial, he said.

The reform initiatives can be a powerful step towards easing decades of intense political division.

Criminal cases should not be filed against individuals solely on the basis of their previous political affiliations, Turk added.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the UN fact-finding mission would finalise its report in the first week of December.

Turk urged the chief adviser to make the National Human Rights Commission independent and fully functional.

Prof Yunus said his government was committed to upholding the rights of every citizen.​

 

[Saif]

Ensuring fair and inclusive justice is crucial

Suggestions by the UN rights chief deserve consideration

www.thedailystar.net

Ensuring fair and inclusive justice is crucial
Suggestions by the UN rights chief deserve consideration

VISUAL: STAR

At the end of his two-day visit to Bangladesh, the UN human rights chief has sent a message that resonates in these challenging times: that justice must be fair, comprehensive, and aimed at breaking the cycle of violence that plagued the nation both before and after the ouster of the Awami League government. As Bangladesh initiates the process of establishing justice for those killed in the uprising, Volker Turk's emphasis on following due process and broadening the scope of justice to include victims of all killings and human rights violations is worth serious reflection in today's charged climate.

The importance of justice for the killings of protesters and innocent bystanders during the uprising cannot be overstated. At the same time, the post-August 5 period also witnessed significant retaliatory violence as well as mob justice which demand investigation, too. It's essential to avoid the trap of selective justice, where certain victims are overlooked and charges weaponised against certain others. Since the formation of the interim government on August 8, at least 1,695 murder cases related to the uprising have been filed, many targeting politicians and businesspeople linked to the former regime. Referring to the concerns about dubious and politically motivated cases, Turk said, "We cannot have the filing of cases on charges that are not properly done; it is therefore extremely important to resolve this and [that] there is a commission set up precisely to address this issue."

Turk also talked about other issues that deserve equal consideration, including compliance with international standards throughout the justice process, from investigation to trial to sentencing. The call for unbiased investigation is particularly relevant. Turk also proposed several measures that could prove pivotal in guiding Bangladesh towards stability and a more just society. He advocated for the UN Human Rights Office to set up a branch in Bangladesh to support the government in its reform drive. He called for the National Human Rights Commission to be independent and fully functional so that it can safeguard human rights more effectively. He also emphasised that women and minority groups should play a central role in the transition process.

All such proposals deserve careful consideration not only to foster national healing and reconciliation but also to prevent a repeat of the abuses that have fractured the nation for so long.​

 

[Saif]

Commission links DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and police to enforced disappearances

Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance in its primary investigation has found the involvement of DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and general police with the enforced disappearances and it is going to interrogate the security personnel concerned from November 7. "We cannot tell you the exact numb

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Commission links DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and police to enforced disappearances
Published :
Nov 05, 2024 18:38
Updated :
Nov 05, 2024 22:32

Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance in its primary investigation has found the involvement of DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and general police with the enforced disappearances and it is going to interrogate the security personnel concerned from November 7.

"We cannot tell you the exact number of security personnel, whose involvement was found so far, but we have found the involvement of DGFI, RAB, DB, CTTC, CID and general policemen. We are going to interrogate the relevant security personnel from November 7 and we have already issued summons on seven people for the first day of questioning.

We may summon three personnel the next time, then seven, then five more, and this will continue," commission chairman Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury said at a press briefing at its commission's auditorium in Dhaka.

Justice Chowdhury said the commission so far received more than 1,600 complaints, of which 400 have already been scrutinised, according to a BSS report.

"We have so far scrutinised 400 complaints and interviewed 140 people in this regard. There is a detailed guideline on how to arrest an accused, but that was not followed. They were supposed to produce the accused before the court within 24 hours of the arrest, but the accused were kept confined for days, months, even year after year," he added.

The commission chairman further said most cases of enforced disappearances had political motives. But many became victims of enforced disappearance because of the personal decision of security personnel, he continued.

Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury said the commission has failed to identify more than 200 victims of enforced disappearance.

The government on August 27 had formed the five-member commission to identify and find the people made disappeared forcibly by law enforcement agencies from January 6, 2009, to August 5, 2024.

Led by retired judge of the High Court Division Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, the other members of the commission are Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activists Nur Khan and Sazzad Hossain, and BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris.​

 

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Enforced disappearances: Inquiry commission finds 8 detention centres

The inquiry commission on enforced disappearances found eight secret detention centres in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.

www.thedailystar.net

Enforced disappearances: Inquiry commission finds 8 detention centres

File illustration: Biplob Chakraborty

The inquiry commission on enforced disappearances found eight secret detention centres in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.

At a press briefing at its office yesterday, it refused to disclose which agencies ran most of those centres "for the sake of investigation".

"We found a cell operated by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) measuring just 3.5 feet by 4 feet. There was no source of light, except a small peephole, and no sanitation system except an open drain, forcing the detainee to perform all basic functions there. People had been confined to such cells for years," said Nur Khan Liton, a member of the commission.

The cell is so small that a person would not have been able to lie down or even sit properly, said Liton.

"We found evidence of extended durations of confinement. For example, those held captive had kept count of days by etching on the walls," he said.

The detention rooms were well-hidden and, in some instances, separate from the holding cells meant for other detainees or arrestees.

"We believe that we will find many more detention centres," said Nabila Idris, another member of the commission.

"We have not found any detainees held at the detention centres we visited. They were empty," she added.

After August 5, lawyer Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, army official Brig Gen (retd) Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, and rights activist Mikel Chakma were released from captivity.

Grameen Telecom Workers' Union General Secretary Firoz Mahmud Hasan - Aynaghar secret prisons victim

Quasem and Azmi, sons of convicted war criminals Mir Quasem Ali and Ghulam Azam, were both picked up in August 2016 and forcibly disappeared for eight years.

Mikel was confined in 2019 and released after five years.

Liton said since August 5, "one or two" more people, who were being held, were released.

Commission Chairman Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury said they had scrutinised 400 complaints and interviewed 140 people. In total, the commission has received approximately 1,600 complaints.

Of the allegations, 172 were linked with Rab, 37 with the police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, 26 with the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, 55 with the Detective Branch of police, 25 with the police, and 68 with "others", said commission member Sazzad Hossain.

The commission raised concerns about "attempts to destroy evidence" linked to these secret cells.

"Law enforcement agencies are destroying cells and their walls. Those involved in this destruction will likely be unwilling to cooperate. Current officers may become complicit in the crimes of their predecessors," said Nabila.

The commission described how they found detention centres that were defaced, repainted and stripped of equipment used for torturing people.

"For example, we were taken to a large room. But upon further inspection, we learnt that the room had actually been three cells, but the walls were later torn down, and the room was plastered again," said Liton.​

 

[Saif]

Punishing perpetrators of 'Enforced Disappearance'

Since the inception of civilisation, enforced disappearance has been a dark tool wielded by oppressive rulers to silence dissent. From ancient regimes to modern authoritarian governments, it has served as a weapon to eliminate opposition voices without due process. While history tells us this story

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Punishing perpetrators of 'Enforced Disappearance'
MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN
Published :
Nov 06, 2024 23:42
Updated :
Nov 06, 2024 23:42

Since the inception of civilisation, enforced disappearance has been a dark tool wielded by oppressive rulers to silence dissent. From ancient regimes to modern authoritarian governments, it has served as a weapon to eliminate opposition voices without due process. While history tells us this story time and again, it is sad to note that enforced disappearances still plague numerous third-world countries, where justice is often overshadowed by political motives and misuse of power. Bangladesh is a disturbing example of this phenomenon. During the last regime led by the Awami League (AL), enforced disappearance became a regular instrument used to intimidate and silence its opponents, political or otherwise. The victims included politicians, army officers, and human rights activists, who were often abducted by law enforcement agencies, leaving their families with agonising uncertainty.

After the ouster of the AL regime on August 5, many who had been victims of enforced disappearance were released. These individuals returned to tell harrowing tales of their sufferings in secret detention centres, where they endured physical and psychological torture. Their families, who lived with the agony of not knowing their loved ones' fate, also suffered immensely. Such brutality has left deep scars, not only on the victims and their families but also on the social fabric of Bangladesh. As a society, we cannot allow such crimes to remain hidden or go unpunished. It is the responsibility of the interim government, the judicial system, and civil society to seek justice for these victims and ensure that such abuses of power are never repeated.

The recently formed Enquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances has uncovered eight secret detention centres in and around Dhaka. The findings are shocking: approximately 1,600 complaints have been filed, implicating various law enforcement agencies. Specifically, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was cited in 172 cases, while other complaints linked the police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, and the Detective Branch of police, among others. The scale of these abuses reveals an alarming breakdown of the rule of law. Rather than protecting citizens, these agencies became instruments of fear and oppression, betraying their mandate to serve and protect the public.

The physical conditions of these detention centres are a testament to the inhumane treatment inflicted on victims. In one cell operated by RAB, detainees were confined in a space measuring a mere 3.5 feet by 4 feet. With no natural light and only an open drain for sanitation, these cells forced individuals to endure extreme discomfort and indignity for years on end. Such facilities were designed not just to detain but to break the human spirit, underscoring the cruelty of enforced disappearance as a state-sanctioned crime.

The commission's findings reveal an even darker reality: evidence of "attempts to destroy evidence" linked to these secret cells. Law enforcement agencies have reportedly been destroying cells, painting over walls, and removing attachments used for torture, essentially erasing any proof of these heinous acts. Such attempts to cover up abuses suggest that those responsible are not only aware of their crimes but are also determined to evade accountability. This obstruction of justice is an insult to the victims and their families and a direct challenge to the ideals of transparency and rule of law.

State-sponsored abduction is a heinous crime. It is a gross violation of human rights and an assault on the very principles of justice. When law enforcement agencies, tasked with upholding the law, engage in enforced disappearances, they betray the trust of the people and undermine the very foundations of society. Exemplary punishment must be ensured for the perpetrators of these crimes. If these atrocities are allowed to go unpunished, future rulers may see enforced disappearance as a viable tool to silence dissent, and the cycle of fear and oppression will continue.

By holding the perpetrators accountable, we must send a powerful message that no one is above the law. This is a crucial step toward healing the wounds inflicted on victims and their families and restoring public trust in state institutions.

It is the responsibility of the government and the judiciary to act decisively in this matter, setting a precedent that enforced disappearance has no place in a society that claims to be governed by the rule of law. Only by addressing this dark chapter openly and honestly can Bangladesh hope to emerge as a just society.​