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

[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

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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.​

 

[Saif]

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.

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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.​

 

[Saif]

We’ll see the end of enforced disappearances: Asif Nazrul

The government lacks neither the courage nor the sincerity in investigating and prosecuting cases of enforced disappearances, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has said. Speaking at the opening of the eighth congress of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearance, or AFAD, on Friday at a hotel in

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

We’ll see the end of enforced disappearances: Asif Nazrul
bdnews24.com
Published :
Nov 15, 2024 20:48
Updated :
Nov 15, 2024 20:48

The government lacks neither the courage nor the sincerity in investigating and prosecuting cases of enforced disappearances, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul has said.

Speaking at the opening of the eighth congress of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearance, or AFAD, on Friday at a hotel in Dhaka, Nazrul assured the victims’ families of the government’s unwavering commitment.

He said, “We stand with you. It does not matter what position we hold. Do not doubt our sincerity; all I ask is this.”

“We may have shortcomings in our capabilities, but there is no shortage of our sincerity or courage. We will see this through to the end,” he added.

The advisor described enforced disappearance as an even more heinous crime than murder.

“When a person dies, you know their body is there. But the pain of not knowing whether someone is alive or dead is unbearable,” said Nazrul.

During the event, relatives of the disappeared raised concerns about the lack of progress under the previous government despite promises to investigate.

Nazrul said, “This interim government is different from others. We are all well-established in our respective professions. Our only asset is our ‘reputation’. Therefore, there is no question of repeating the actions of the previous government.”

“Our commitment is certainly stronger than before. No government has formed a commission for the disappeared; we have done so,” he added.​

 

[Saif]

Enforced disappearance worse than murder: Speakers

The speakers said this in the 8th congress of the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearance (AFAD), organised with the help of rights organisation Odhikar, at Hotel Bengal Canary Park in the capital’s Gulshan area today, Friday

en.prothomalo.com

Enforced disappearance worse than murder: Speakers
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 15 Nov 2024, 23: 07

Relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances attended the programme with the photos of their dear ones Prothom Alo

If someone is killed, his body could be recovered and the pain of the relatives slowly dies down, the heirs’ could get their share in the property. But no such thing is possible if someone is a victim of enforced disappearance. For years the family members just look for a piece of information regarding that person - whether he is alive or dead. The incidents of enforced disappearances are worse crimes than murder.

The speakers said this in the 8th congress of the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearance (AFAD), organised with the help of rights organisation Odhikar, at Hotel Bengal Canary Park in the capital’s Gulshan area today, Friday.

Odhikar president professor CR Abrar chaired the event where rights defenders from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines and other countries attended.

Relatives of the victims of enforced disappearances were also present at the programme.

Addressing the event, interim government’s law affairs adviser Asif Nazrul said, “Whenever I gaze at the photos of the people who were made victims of enforced disappearances, I realise your sorrows. We are also human beings… I always think how would I feel if my child becomes a victim of enforced disappearance, how would my wife and mother feel if I become a victim of enforced disappearance?”

“Whenever I think of these things, I always think we should bring the families of those people, who order for someone’s enforced disappearance, think of such an act, in these programmes so that they could see what their parents, children or brothers have done. I still believe that enforced disappearance is a worse crime than murder. We can know if a person dies, we could get his body. But this pain is unparalleled. A person does not know whether his relative is alive or not. We surely will consider rehabilitation and compensation of the families of the victims of enforced disappearance.”

Speakers at the 8th congress of the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearance in Dhaka on 15 November 2024 Prothom Alo

The law adviser informed the gathering that the government has formed a very powerful commission to investigate the incidents of enforced disappearance.

He said the commission members have been working tirelessly to deeply investigate the crime and find out the actual perpetrators.

“We are pledge-bound to bring to book the people involved with such crimes. The commission to investigate the incidents of enforced disappearance and International Crimes Tribunal could coordinate in their works. The information to be unveiled by the commission to investigate the incidents of enforced disappearance could be very effective to run the trials at the ICT,” he added.

All types of crimes were committed under the leadership of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the last 15-16 years, remarked Asif Nazrul.

“The root of the party that committed the enforced disappearance, corruption and extrajudicial killings is deeper. Fighting them is a big act, this is not easy. They accumulated strength for over 15 years but we have been working against such a force for just a few weeks. That is why it will take some time to be successful against them,” he added.

Mentioning that continuing this fight is a challenging task, Asif Nazrul said, “We are here not for a long time. But this has to be ensured that the next elected government will continue this fight.”

Speaking at the programme, attorney general Md Asaduzzaman said the children of the victims of enforced disappearance sometimes need to pass days through economic hardships even though they have a good amount of money in bank accounts. They cannot even ask for help from others due to their social position. This is how they too die within slowly.

Stating that an ordinance is required to solve this problem, the AG said, “This has to be done so that the victim families could get the heir’s share of properties as soon as possible.”

He also requested the law adviser to compose such an ordinance that would prioritise the trials of crimes against humanity so that none in the future could muster courage to commit such crimes.

Law adviser Asif Nazrul addresses the event Prothom Alo

Law adviser Asif Nazrul said, “Definitely we will take an initiative to compose such a law. The issues of compensation and other problems will also be addressed in this regard.”

He further asked people not to suspect their goodwill and sincerity about that.

“We are eying every moment”

Sharing her ordeal, Nasreen Jahan Smriti, the wife of BNP leader Ismail Hossain who went missing in 2019, said, “My husband has been subjected to enforced disappearance. Every moment, every minute, every second, we are dying. How many more times will we have to die?”

Nasreen mentioned her financial hardships as she has to support her family, including her children, in the current economic situation. She pleaded, “Please, give us a clue – is he alive or not?”

“We can’t take it anymore. Please help us,” she wailed.

“Justice is our priority”

Adilur Rahman Khan, adviser for the housing and public works ministry, noted that ensuring justice is a priority for the current government. “This is not just for the victims of enforced disappearances but for all the victims of the 15-and-a-half-year-long barbaric and fascist regime.”

He added, “We stood together, we fought together against the fascist. We want express a firm commitment – we will not let the fight end without ensuring justice.”

On the occasion, Professor CR Abrar said the path to justice is not easy, rather shrouded in different types of uncertainty.

“The fallen regime had excessive power, excessive authority, and not all of them have disappeared. Many are still in place. They also have much wealth. They will try to undermine the authority of this public-supported government. Therefore, all need to stay united.”​

 

[Saif]

Commission for travel ban on 22 law enforcers

The Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has recommended that travel ban should be imposed on 22 members of law enforcement agencies for their alleged involvement in the...

www.newagebd.net

Commission for travel ban on 22 law enforcers
Staff Correspondent 25 November, 2024, 00:23

The Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has recommended that travel ban should be imposed on 22 members of law enforcement agencies for their alleged involvement in the incidents of enforced disappearance during the now ousted Awami League regime of the past 15 years.

A commission member told New Age that they had given the recommendation to the government in November for the sake of investigation against these officials accused of involvement in enforced disappearances.

The 22 officers belong to the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, Rapid Action Battalion and police.

‘We have to talk to the members of law enforcement agencies for the sake of investigation as the commission has primarily found their involvement in enforced disappearance cases,’ the commission member said.

He said that they could not disclose the date and identities of the law enforcement agencies members.

The commission also asked the government to alert the immigration department in this regard, he added.

When reached for comments on the development, another commission member Nabila Idris said, ‘I neither acknowledge nor deny the matter. We are not disclosing anything to the media for the sake of investigation. We will inform our updates through press conferences.’

News has also spread that these 22 members of the law enforcement agencies have been sacked from their jobs.

Another commission member, Nur Khan Liton, said that the news that the officers’ got the sack was fake.

Bangladesh security forces have not sacked any of their officers and members on the basis of any recommendations of the Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances in the country, said a press release issued by the interim government chief adviser’s press wing on Sunday evening, quoting the commission chairman, justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, as saying.

Addressing the nation on November 17, interim government chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus said that although the Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had received over 1,600 complaints till October, he expected the number to exceed over 3,500.

On November 5, the inquiry commission said that it had received complaints regarding enforced disappearance of over 1,600 victims, the incidents of which occurred during the immediate past 15-year rule of the now ousted Awami League.

The complaints came from the enforced disappearance victims and their families from September 15 to October 31.

The commission also found detention centres in eight locations in the compounds of law enforcement and security agency offices, including the joint interrogation cell, popularly known as Aynaghar, on the premises of the Directorate General Forces Intelligence headquarters in the capital, and its surrounding areas.

Nearly 200 victims of enforced disappearance incidents that took place between January 6, 2009 and August 5, 2024 remain still untraced.

Commission members said that most of the 1,400 victims were later framed in cases with allegations of possessing illegal arms and involvement in extremism.

The victims were also sent to jail, sentenced to various jail terms, given death sentence, or granted bail while many cases are still underway.​

 

[Saif]

Enforced disappearances: ‘Hasina herself was involved’

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her defence adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, and senior police officers Monirul Islam and Md Harun-Or-Rashid were all involved in enforced...

www.thedailystar.net

Enforced disappearances: ‘Hasina herself was involved’
Says commission’s preliminary report to CA

Illustration: Biplob Chakroborty

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her defence adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, and senior police officers Monirul Islam and Md Harun-Or-Rashid were all involved in enforced disappearances.

Commission for inquiry into enforced disappearances found prima facie evidence of their involvement, said a preliminary report submitted to the chief adviser yesterday.

The commission recommends disbanding Rab because of its inalienable involvement in enforced disappearances.

It found a "systematic design" that facilitated incidents of enforced disappearances go undetected, chairman of the commission Justice (retd) Mainul Islam Chowdhury said while submitting the report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

The forces collaborated with each other to pick up, torture, and keep victims in detention and deliberately compartmentalised the operations, the commission found.

The commission recorded 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances.

Of the complaints, it has examined 758, of which 27 percent of the victims -- approximately 200 people -- never returned, said commission member Sajjad Hossain to The Daily Star.

Those who returned were mostly shown on records as arrested, said the rights activist.

The number of complaints the commission has scrutinised exceeds preliminary estimates collated over the years by human rights platforms like Mayer Daak and Odhikar.

Many who had not spoken out, fearing reprisal from the Awami League government, are now doing so, Sajjad said.

The commission estimates that the number of cases of enforced disappearances would be over 3,500.

Earlier, the commission members announced at a press conference that they had found eight secret detention centres in Dhaka and its outskirts.

The commission has since found one more Rab-run secret prison, said Sajjad.

While receiving the report yesterday, Prof Yunus said he would visit some of the joint interrogation cells and secret detention centres, better known as Aynaghar, as he wanted first-hand knowledge about the sufferings of the victims.

The commission also recommends repealing or heavily amending the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.

Sajjad said, "Terrorism is very vaguely defined in the law creating room for abuse. We have also recommended abolishing the death penalty under this law."

The report called for the creation of a new law criminalising enforced disappearances.

They also told the government to repeal laws under the Armed Police Battalions Ordinance that grants law enforcers indemnity for acts done in "good faith".

The committee also recommends that the government creates a National Preventive Mechanism as mandated by the UN Convention Against Torture to protect civilians from abuses, Sajjad said.

Last month, commission member Nur Khan Liton told a press conference that the commission found a cell operated by Rab measuring just 3.5 feet x 4 feet. The cell had no source of light, except a small peephole. People had been confined to such cells for years, he said.

Yesterday, the report was handed over to the chief adviser at the state guest house Jamuna.

The commission chairman told Yunus that another interim report would be delivered in March. It would take at least another year to scrutinise all the complaints.

Commission members Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activist Nur Khan, BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris, and human rights activist Sajjad Hossain; Interim Government's advisory council members Adilur Rahman Khan and Sharmeen S Murshid; Principal Secretary to Chief Adviser Md Siraj Uddin Mia; and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were present, among others.​