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

[Saif]

Bring the true perpetrators of enforced disappearance to book

Justice must be ensured for the victims of this heinous crime.

www.thedailystar.net

Bring the true perpetrators of enforced disappearance to book
Justice must be ensured for the victims of this heinous crime

VISUAL: STAR

At a press briefing on Tuesday, the chairperson of the inquiry commission on enforced disappearances once again stated how the highest level of the ousted Awami League government had been directly involved in cases of enforced disappearances, abusing the state's security apparatus to this heinous end. While this has been known for some time now, Tuesday's revelation reinforced the extent to which the fallen regime perverted the purpose of security forces to commit this absolute aberration of justice, rule of law, and human rights. Not only is it deeply saddening, but it is also a dark, shameful stain on the country's image as well as collective psyche.

The commission, which has been investigating cases of enforced disappearances since its formation on August 27, 2024, said it had interviewed 45 members of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and identified those within these forces who had carried out the orders of their political masters. The commission chief also mentioned the prevailing apprehension among security forces in this regard and warned against what he called "community shielding" of the perpetrators, clarifying that individuals directly involved in this abominable crime must take personal responsibility for their actions.

We could not agree more. As we learnt from the inquiry commission's preliminary report, submitted to the chief adviser in December, various security agencies—from different wings of the police to intelligence bodies—were involved in a well-coordinated system set up by the fallen regime to abduct, detain, disappear, torture, and execute or frame in trumped up charges those critical of the government. Members of these forces thus strayed from their true purpose—serving the people and upholding the rule of law—at the behest of the deposed prime minister and her cohorts. Therefore, justice must be served, and as the commission chief said, those involved must be held accountable.

We appreciate the inquiry commission's efforts to bring justice to the victims of enforced disappearances. We also believe all details of this clandestine system of suppression should be made public. Doing so would serve as a lesson for the nation, ensuring that such a horrific abuse of our law enforcement and security forces, which are meant to protect us, is never repeated. To this end, laws could be enacted if necessary to shield security agencies from the undue influence of any government. This we suggest with the best interests of these institutions and the nation at heart.​

 

[Saif]

JULY UPRISING ABUSES: UN rights chief calls for justice

Presenting the fact-finding report in Geneva in Switzerland on human rights violations and abuses related to the protests of the July-August student-led mass uprising in Bangladesh, United Nations’ high commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Wednesday said that accountability was...

www.newagebd.net

JULY UPRISING ABUSES: UN rights chief calls for justice
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 05 March, 2025, 21:17

Volker Türk | File photo

Presenting the fact-finding report in Geneva in Switzerland on human rights violations and abuses related to the protests of the July-August student-led mass uprising in Bangladesh, United Nations’ high commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Wednesday said that accountability was absolutely the key.

He, emphasising on future stability and protection of human rights, said that it was a huge chance for the country at this pivotal time to deal with its past and overcome its past to reach a moment of healing and truth telling and that included each and everyone within the society of Bangladesh.

Whatever differences are there, Volker Türk stressed that it was ‘one country and one citizenship’ and it was a unique opportunity for each and every citizen of Bangladesh.

Türk engaged in dialogue with member states and civil society on the findings and recommendations with a view to promoting accountability, justice, and human rights reforms in Bangladesh.

The interim government and civil society representatives from Bangladesh also participated in the event.

Referring to his first telephone conversation with chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, Turk said that Yunus told him human rights is at the centre of the reforms and transition. ‘Of course, this is hard work, no doubt about that. This is not easy.’

That was the right spirit and they all need to grasp the opportunity and support the opportunity towards transition, the UN human rights chief said.

Responding to a question, law adviser Asif Nazrul, who was present at the event, said that there had been some incidents of political violence against the ‘torturers, hooligans of the Awami League regime’, who oppressed and tortured people for many years.

He said that there were some incidents where people who were deeply involved with the AL regime were attacked. ‘We strongly condemned that.’

Asif Nazrul, however, said that most of them belong to the Muslim community and very few people belong to the minority groups.

In his concluding remarks, Turk said that it was fact that the interim government fully cooperated with them when they deployed their team very quickly at the request of the government. ‘We will continue to find ways to keep the Human Rights Council informed.’

‘It will be crucial to ensure due process in criminal cases and investigate revenge violence, including against minorities,’ Turk said while sharing a global update at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva recently.

In the past year, Bangladesh experienced a paroxysm of violence as the government of that time ‘brutally suppressed’ a student movement that carried human rights as its torch, Turk mentioned.

‘The country is now charting a new future,’ he said, adding that their recent independent fact-finding report on the human rights violations that took place was an ‘important contribution’ to this journey.​

 

[Saif]

Enforced disappearance: Cancel passports of 10 Rab, seven police officials

The Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance recently wrote to the home ministry, seeking cancellation of the passports of 10 Rab and seven police officers for being involved with enforced disappearance.

www.thedailystar.net

Enforced disappearance: Cancel passports of 10 Rab, seven police officials
Inquiry commission asks home ministry

The Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance recently wrote to the home ministry, seeking cancellation of the passports of 10 Rab and seven police officers for being involved with enforced disappearance.

The list includes two former directors general of Rab M Khurshid Hussain and Md Harun Or Rashid

After receiving the letter on March 4, the Security Services Division asked the department of immigration and passports to implement the commission's directive and impose a travel ban on the individuals.

The others named in the list are three additional directors general of Rab's operation division, Col Anwar Latif Khan, Col KM Azad, and Col Kamrul Hasan; four Rab intelligence officers, former directors, Lt Col Muhammad Khairul Islam, Lt Col Md Mashiur Rahman Jewel and Lt Col Saiful Islam Suman, and additional superintendent of police Shyamal Chowdhury.

Members of the commission at a recent press conference said they found a secret detention centre inside Bogura police lines.

The commission's list contained the names of Ali Ashraf Bhuiyan, former superintendent of police in Bogura and current deputy commissioner of Barishal (south) range; Arifur Rahman Mondal, former ASP of Bogura and current a deputy inspector general in Barishal; Nur e Alam, former officer-in-charge of Detective Branch in Bogura and current inspector of Bogura Police Hospital; and Zulhas Uddin, former sub-inspector and current OC of Armed Police Batallion-7.

The Commission's letter also included the names of two additional deputy commissioners of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit of police, Ahmedul Islam and Zahidul Haque Talukder.

"The commission has evidence of their involvement with enforced disappearance, and the commission will need to interview them further," said the letter.​

 

[Saif]

Perpetrators of enforced disappearances to face trial: Mahfuj Alam

The adviser made the remarks while exchanging views with the families of the victims of enforced disappearances

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Perpetrators of enforced disappearances to face trial: Mahfuj Alam

Photo: BSS

Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam today said that the individuals involved in enforced disappearances will be brought to justice during the tenure of the interim government.

The adviser made the remarks while exchanging views with the families of the victims of enforced disappearances. Human rights organisation Mayer Dak organised the event in the city's Tejgaon area this afternoon, said a press release.

Criticising ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Mahfuj said she used enforced disappearances and killings as a means of avenging her parents' assassination.

"The highest number of enforced disappearances occurred in 2013 and 2014 when people were fighting for their voting rights. The main objective behind these actions was to destroy the electoral system," he added.

The adviser said the government has already formed a commission to investigate into enforced disappearances.

"Based on the commission's recommendations, arrest warrants have been issued against several individuals involved in enforced disappearances. Additionally, investigations against many others are still ongoing," Mahfuj added.

He said those who opposed the Awami League politically were labelled as terrorists and militants before being forcibly disappeared.

Their families were also subjected to fear and intimidation, the adviser said, adding that various state institutions were used to carry out such disappearances.

Mahfuj said Hasina is still hatching conspiracies against the country staying in India, which is very unfortunate.

He said, "The Awami League will no longer be allowed to establish itself politically in Bangladesh. If Awami League is given another chance, enforced disappearances and killings will rise again. They will not be given that opportunity."

Noting that the present government is working to restore the human rights that Sheikh Hasina had taken away from the people, Mahfuj urged the families of the victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings to remain united.

He assured them that the government would stand by their side and support them in seeking justice.

At the event, Family members of the victims of enforced disappearance demanded trial for those responsible and wanted to know whereabouts of their missing loved ones.​

 

[Saif]

300 victims of enforced disappearances ‘killed’: Chief prosecutor

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has set Jun 24 for submission of the investigation report in a case over enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings allegedly committed over the last 15 years of Sheikh Hasina’s rule. The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza M

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

300 victims of enforced disappearances ‘killed’: Chief prosecutor
Published :
Apr 20, 2025 19:29
Updated :
Apr 20, 2025 19:29

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has set Jun 24 for submission of the investigation report in a case over enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings allegedly committed over the last 15 years of Sheikh Hasina’s rule.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order on Sunday following a plea from the prosecution, bdnews24.com reports.

Former Rapid Action Battalion director general Ziaul Ahsan, one of the accused in the case, was produced before the court during the hearing.

Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam told the tribunal that “hundreds of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances” had taken place during the period.

He said, “Investigations into 200 disappearances are at the final stage. A total of 800 to 900 such cases have occurred. Among them, 300 victims were killed.

“The investigation agency has already gathered and is still gathering evidence on these crimes,” he added.

He requested two more months for submission of the full investigation report.

According to Tajul, arrest warrants were issued on Jan 6 against 11 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over these alleged crimes against humanity.

Ziaul has already been arrested in connection with the case.

The investigation agency has so far visited several sites linked to enforced disappearances, including a so-called “detention centre” at the RAB-1 office in Uttara, where victims were allegedly kept.

Another location mentioned was a “disappearance chamber” at the RAB-2 office in Agargaon.

At the Kochukhet area, evidence was reportedly found in the infamous “Aynaghar” (Hall of Mirrors), known officially as the Joint Interrogation Cell.

According to the prosecution, torture equipment used on victims after abduction was also recovered from these locations.

Tajul claimed the structures of these locations have since been altered to destroy evidence, which has also been documented during the investigation.

The chief prosecutor alleged direct involvement of Hasina, her cabinet members, MPs, party leaders, and top officers of RAB, Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) and other law-enforcing agencies in the disappearances and killings.

On Jan 6, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against 11, including Hasina, former defence advisor Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and former IGP Benazir Ahmed.

Hasina stepped down as prime minister on Aug 5, 2024, and has since remained in India.

The interim government took over following her resignation.

Over 50 complaints have so far been submitted to the tribunal against Hasina, her ministers, MPs, and senior Awami League leaders—many of them relating to enforced disappearances.

A commission on enforced disappearances formed by the interim government said in its report on Dec 15 last year that Hasina had been “directly involved” in ordering such acts over the last 15 years.​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Trial of enforced disappearances, crimes against humanity on govt priority list: Asif Nazrul
Published :
Apr 22, 2025 22:30
Updated :
Apr 22, 2025 22:30

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today (Tuesday) said enforced disappearances, killings and crimes against humanity remain of the interim government’s priority list.

“Ensuring justice of the heinous crimes and brutality took place during the fascist Sheikh Hasina’s regime are also in the present government’s priority list aimed at stopping recurrence of the crimes,” he added, BSS reports.

The adviser said these while presiding over a view-exchange meeting organized by the Law and Justice Division on the proposed 'Disappearance Prevention and Remedies Ordinance, 2025'. The meeting was held at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in the capital.

Stating that enforced disappearances have been a painful memory in our national life, especially during the last 15 years, the adviser said, "During the July uprising, an opportunity has been created to build a new Bangladesh through the immense sacrifice of our young students."

He said Bangladesh has officially ratified the ‘International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED)’ since the country does not have any dedicated law to deal with the cases of enforced disappearances.

"Although our international criminal law considers widespread and systematic enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity, but there is no separate definition of enforced disappearance or explanation of its punishment outside of this or in other cases," he said.

On the issue of Enforced Disappearances Commission, he said, the commission has been working relentlessly to this end and they will submit their report very soon.

Regarding reforms, he said the government wants legal and institutional reforms so that none could dare to commit such types of heinous crimes in future.​

 

[Saif]

Enforced disappearance: Life term or death penalty for culprits

Government officials will face death penalty or minimum life sentence if found guilty of causing the death of enforced disappearance victims, according to a draft ordinance unveiled yesterday.

www.thedailystar.net

Enforced disappearance: Life term or death penalty for culprits
Proposes draft ordinance

Illustration: Biplob Chakroborty

Government officials will face death penalty or minimum life sentence if found guilty of causing the death of enforced disappearance victims, according to a draft ordinance unveiled yesterday.

The draft "Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance 2025" also has provisions for financial penalties of up to Tk 1 crore for the perpetrators.

Government officials responsible for any enforced disappearance, but not guilty of causing the victims' death, will be sentenced to life term rigorous imprisonment or minimum 10 years in jail, and will also have to pay a fine of up to Tk 50 lakh.

If approved by the president, it will be for the first time that Bangladesh will recognise state-sponsored enforced disappearance and try the perpetrators in criminal courts. Currently, abductions or kidnaps are recognised under criminal laws, but enforced disappearances are not.

The draft ordinance has also provisions for trying the culprits in absentia.

If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accused has gone into hiding, the court may issue a notice within 20 days of taking the charge sheet into cognisance, directing the accused to appear before the court.

"If the accused does not appear before the court within the specified time mentioned in the notice, the court may proceed to try the case in the absence of the accused," it added.

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs yesterday shared the draft at its first stakeholders' meeting at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka where selective jurists and rights activists offered their views on the proposed ordinance.

The draft seeks to set up tribunals, equivalent to district judges' courts, across the country within the 60 days of its formulation.

Crimes under the ordinance will be cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, meaning once the case is filed, the matter cannot be settled outside the court.

At the discussion with the stakeholders, Law Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul said enforced disappearance is a graver crime than murder.

"In some cases, it is even more heinous," he said, adding that their top priorities are ensuring justice for enforced disappearances, murders, and crimes against humanity, particularly for the gruesome incidents that occurred during Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian regime.

"We want to make it difficult for anyone with such dictatorial ambitions to rise again. For that reason, we are enacting various laws and have already initiated judicial processes," he said.

He said they will hold further discussions on the draft with various stakeholders.

According to the draft, enforced disappearance is when any government official, or any person or persons under the authorisation, support, or silent consent of the state or any government authority (a) arrests, detains, abducts, or otherwise deprives any person of liberty; and (b) denies the deprivation of liberty of that person or conceals the fate or whereabouts of that person.

Besides, if any person attempts to commit any offence mentioned in the two subsections mentioned above; directs, assists, or incites the commission of such offence; or conspire in committing such offence would be punished under the law.

Any offence committed under this ordinance shall not be justified on the grounds of a state of war, threat of war, internal political instability, or a state of emergency; nor shall it be justified by the claim that it was committed on the orders of a superior officer or a public authority.

Sharing his opinion on the draft, M Maroof Zaman, a former diplomat and a victim of enforced disappearance himself, said the law should not include capital punishment since it has been formulated in line with an international convention, to which Bangladesh has become a signatory recently.

"The ordinance will have greater international acceptance if the provision for death penalty is dropped," he said.

Barrister Sara Hossain, executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, said setting up of tribunals in every district will require a large number of courageous and skilled manpower.

Saira Rahman Khan, acting secretary of rights body Odhikar, suggested that the ordinance include provisions for compensation for the victim families.

She also demanded provisions for protection and secrecy of victims and witnesses, and a system where a victim's family could access the victim's bank accounts and other assets.

Rights activist Rezaur Rahman Lenin also spoke for compensation.

Lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir said that if incidents of enforced disappearances are widespread and systematic, then they can be prosecuted as crimes against humanity. "We need to specify which cases would be tried under the new tribunals and which would be tried under the International Crimes Tribunal."

Chief ICT Prosecutor Advocate Tajul Islam said the ordinance should stipulate how far the investigation team could go to probe the offence.

"Specially, it should be determined how the probe body would get into organisations like NTMC [National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre] and other armed forces," he said.

On August 29, 2024, the interim government signed the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances.

Soon after taking office on August 8, the government also formed an inquiry commission to investigate cases of enforced disappearances during Hasina's 15-year rule.

During her dictatorship, different law enforcement agencies held victims of enforced disappearance for days, months and even years in several secret detention cells (popularly known as Aynaghar) in inhuman conditions, according to the commission report submitted to the chief adviser earlier this year.

During its investigation, the commission received 758 complaints regarding victims of enforced disappearance. Of them, more than one in every four people (27 percent) never returned. A key finding of the inquiry was that the culture of enforced disappearance "was systematically designed over 15 years to remain undetectable."​

 

[Saif]

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE: Govt drafts law to form tribunal, commission

The interim government has taken a move to form a national commission and a tribunal for ensuring justice for the victims of enforced disappearance and their families to make the International Convention for the Protection of All Enforced Disappearance effective.

www.newagebd.net

ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE: Govt drafts law to form tribunal, commission
Staff Correspondent 11 May, 2025, 00:36

The interim government has taken a move to form a national commission and a tribunal for ensuring justice for the victims of enforced disappearance and their families to make the International Convention for the Protection of All Enforced Disappearance effective.

The proposal was made in the second draft of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance 2025, presented at a view exchange programme organised by the law ministry at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka on Saturday.

Law adviser Asif Nazrul, addressing the event as the chair, said, ‘We want to enact the law as we are not confirm whether the next government will enact such a law. We want to form a strong commission.’

He said that they would form a truth and reconciliation commission.

‘Truth Justice Commission or Truth Reconciliation Commission is much needed in our country. If the commission was formed in 1972, it would have been better.’ he added.

According to the draft, the national commission on enforced disappearance would comprise five members headed by a retired High Court Division judge.

It said that the members of the proposed commission would include one retired district and sessions judge, a former secretary, a medical forensic department professor and a human rights activist having 15 years of experience in a recognised human rights organisation.

International Crimes Tribunal chief prosecutor Tajul Islam said that the provision of 15 years of experience should be dropped while appointing a human rights activist to the commission as a youth might learn more within a month than one can learn in years.

‘We should not bar it with an age limit. We have to appoint a member having efficiency,’ he added.

The member of the commission would be appointed following discussions between the government and the Supreme Court, said the draft.

It said that the head office of the proposed commission would be in Dhaka and, if necessary, its offices would also be set up at divisional, district and upazila levels.

The responsibility, power and functions of the proposed commission include recording the allegations of enforced disappearance, conducting or supervising investigation, and visiting jails, places, or establishments anywhere in Bangladesh to probe the incidents of enforced disappearance.

The draft said that an enforced disappearance victim could file a complaint with the commission, police station, or a first-class magistrate and the commission would prepare a primary report within 48 hours.

If the report is satisfactory, the victim can file a first information report or the commission can investigate directly, the draft said.

Legal experts and rights activists, however, opposed the complex process of recording a case.

‘It is a complex process of recording a case and such process will give a scope to the perpetrators to escape,’ said attorney general Md Asaduzzaman.

The draft also said that the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Tribunal would be considered as a sessions court and the government would appoint judges of the rank of a district and session judge, said the draft.

It said that the trial would be completed within 120 days.

Environment, forest and climate change affairs adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that constituting tribunals in 64 districts for trial of enforced disappearance cases would not be logical as incidents of enforced disappearance were not reported in the past nine months of the interim government.

Social media influencer and activist Pinaki Bhattacharya addressed the event virtually.

Education affairs adviser professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, human rights organisation Odhikar secretary Saira Rahman Khan and poet and thinker Farhad Mazhar also spoke.

Sanjida Islam Tulee, co-founder of Maayer Daak, a platform for enforced disappearance victim families, among others, was also present.

On December 14, 2024, the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance in its first interim report submitted to the interim government found prima facie involvement of the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and some high-ranking officials of security forces and her government in enforced disappearances.

The government formed the commission after it had taken office on August 8, 2024, three days after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime on August 5, 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising.

The commission said that they recorded 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances that took place during the Hasina regime, while 758 complaints were scrutinized.

The commission estimates the number of enforced disappearance incidents in the country would cross 3,500.​

 

[Lulldapull]

You guys know me here for a while now......and I'm goin say it openly.......if the Bangladeshis want sovereign independence than anybody opposing this is an enemy of the Bangladeshi people.

This is all the narrative there is folks.........nothing else makes sense.

 

[Lulldapull]

I hope Bangladesh charts its own sovereign course away from any neighbors hegemony!

We Pakistanis are cheering you on, even though we ourselves in deep shiit!

 

[Saif]

Families cry for whereabouts of enforced disappearance victims

Families of the victims who were forcibly disappeared during the Awami League regime on Saturday demanded to know the whereabouts of their relatives, decrying that many of the victims remained traceless although 10 months passed after the...

www.newagebd.net

Families cry for whereabouts of enforced disappearance victims
Staff Correspondent 01 June, 2025, 00:06

Odhikar holds a discussion on enforced disappearance marking International Week of the Disappeared at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday. | New Age photo Wellness retreats

Families of the victims who were forcibly disappeared during the Awami League regime on Saturday demanded to know the whereabouts of their relatives, decrying that many of the victims remained traceless although 10 months passed after the interim government had assumed office.

They also demanded that the Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and the Commission of Inquiry on Enforce Disappearance must bring the perpetrators to justice immediately and inform them whether their relatives were alive or dead.

Their demand came at a discussion titled ‘Bring those involved in enforced disappearance to justice immediately marking International Week of the Disappeared’ organised by rights body Odhikar at the National Press Club in Dhaka city.

According to the data of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforce Disappearance updated till March 4, total 330 victims remain traceless out of 1,752 complaints it has received. So far, the commission has scrutinised 1,000 complaints.

At the Saturday’s discussion, Safa, daughter of Md Sohel, an alleged victim of enforced disappearance who went missing on December 2, 2013, spoke. Sohel was the president of the Bangshal thana unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

‘One after another Eid passes by but my father never returned. This is my father’s photograph. Will I live only by holding this photograph? Won’t I ever hold my father?’ Safa, who was two months old when her father disappeared, said in a choked voice.

Anisha Islam Insha, whose father was reportedly picked up by the members of Rapid Action Battalion on June 19, 2019, said that the disappearance of her father sent her brother into a deep trauma, but except Odhikar no other human rights organisation in the country stood by their side.

Ariyan, son of Khalid Hasan Sohel, who was allegedly forced to disappear on November 28, 2013, decried that his father remained traceless till now.

‘We demonstrated at many places many times, demanding our father’s trace. We hoped that now that it is second Bangladesh, we would find the trace of my father,’ he said.

Former ambassador Maruf Zaman, who was also a victim of enforced disappearance, urged the government to disband the RAB and abolish all secret detention centres except for the Joint Interrogation Cell on the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence headquarters premises for national security reasons.

He also urged the government to ensure financial security of the victim families many whom are living in hardship.

Addressing the discussion, International Crimes Tribunal chief prosecutor Tajul Islam said that many were alleging that the trial process was delayed, but the trial must comply with the international standard.

‘We have to work hard, use different technologies and methods to find out a cell. We need time to complete the investigation,’ he said, adding that the probe into 10–15 significant incidents of enforced disappearance would be completed in June.

Chaired by Odhikar president Tasneem Siddiqui, the programme was addressed, among others, by acclaimed photographer and rights activist Shahidul Alam, enforced disappearance victim Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem and New Age news editor Shahiduzzaman Shahid.​

 

[Saif]

Revisiting the UN Report on 2024 July Upsurge

The United Nations Human Rights Office or the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a fact-finding report in February this year, which found the intelligence agencies and security forces of the deposed Hasina regime in Bangladesh killing as many as 1,400 innocent civilia

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Revisiting the UN Report on 2024 July Upsurge

Helal Uddin Ahmed
Published :
Jun 02, 2025 23:39
Updated :
Jun 02, 2025 23:39

The United Nations Human Rights Office or the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a fact-finding report in February this year, which found the intelligence agencies and security forces of the deposed Hasina regime in Bangladesh killing as many as 1,400 innocent civilians (of whom 12 to 13 per cent were children), and arbitrarily arresting or detaining over 11,700 protesters during the student-led mass movement that took place from 1 July to 5 August, resulting in Sheikh Hasina fleeing from the country.

Titled 'Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh', the report was compiled by a team of UN experts following a request made by the interim government of Bangladesh, asking the UN Human Rights Office to impartially investigate human rights violations and abuses alleged to have taken place during the mass movement. A team of human rights investigators, a forensics physician, and a weapons expert were deployed for a few months in Bangladesh for the purpose from September 2024.

While releasing the report, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk claimed: "The brutal response was a calculated and well-coordinated strategy by the former Government to hold on to power in the face of mass opposition. There are reasonable grounds to believe, hundreds of extrajudicial killings, extensive arbitrary arrests and detentions, and torture were carried out with the knowledge, coordination, and direction of the political leadership and senior security officials as part of a strategy to suppress the protests." The protests unified millions of Bangladeshi men, women and children from diverse backgrounds, who demanded concrete socio-economic cum political reforms for ridding the country of entrenched disparities and discriminations in society. When the Hasina regime started to lose control over the situation, it used its security cum intelligence apparatuses as well as political cadres linked to the regime for brutally suppressing the protests through violent and cruel means in order to hold on to power.

The UN Human Rights Office found that the female protesters, who were at the forefront during the mass movement, were subjected to arbitrary arrests, torture, ill-treatment, attacks, and even sexual cum gender-based violence by the security forces; and in some cases, sexual assaults were perpetrated by pro-regime terrorists belonging to the Awami League. The investigation found patterns of deliberate and impermissible killings or maiming of protesters by the security forces, including incidents where protesters were shot at point-blank range. In one such incident, the 23-year-old student activist of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur Abu Sayed was shot and killed by shotgun pellets while leading protests on 16 July 2024, despite posing no threat as seen live on television screens.

The UN investigation found that the police and other security forces killed and maimed even child protesters with indiscriminate firing from rifles and shot-guns loaded with lethal ammunition, and subjected them to arrests, detention and torture under inhumane conditions. The security personnel even obstructed lifesaving medical care in hospitals and clinics, often arresting wounded protesters and intimidating the medical staff at those places to refrain from performing their duty. The UN report lamented that "Neither prosecutorial authorities, nor the judiciary took any meaningful action to curb acts and practices of arbitrary detention and torture, or to ensure that any officials perpetrating such acts were held accountable."

According to the report, the intelligence services - the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI), and the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) - and the specialised branches of the Police - Detective Branch (DB), Special Branch (SB), the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit, and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) directly engaged in perpetrating human rights violations for suppressing the protests. They used intelligences including those gathered through surveillance in violation of the right to privacy for carrying out the campaign of mass arbitrary arrests in late July. The DB routinely resorted to arbitrary arrests, detention and torture to extract information from detainees. The DB and DGFI colluded in the abductions and arbitrary detentions of student leaders, while DB, DGFI and NSI personnel hindered life-saving medical care, interrogated and arrested the injured protesters in hospitals, and intimidated medical personnel providing care.

The intelligence outfits were also part of a systematic and organised effort to conceal serious violations of human rights. The NTMC worked in close concert with Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to implement ministerial orders by enforcing strategically timed and targeted internet shutdowns to prevent protesters and the masses from using internet communication for informing and organising events, and to obstruct access to and dissemination of information about the ongoing violations of human rights. The DGFI, NSI, and RAB exerted pressure on the print and electronic media outlets not to report truthfully about the mass protests and their violent suppression by the Hasina regime. Besides, the DGFI joined hands with the Police for intimidating the victims and suspects, their family-members and lawyers in order to force them into silence.

Based on reported deaths compiled by both public and private sources, and by combining those with other available evidences, the UN Human Rights Office estimated that at least 1,400 people were killed during the mass protests, the vast majority of whom were killed by military rifles and shotguns loaded with lethal metal pellets commonly used by the security forces of Bangladesh. Thousands more suffered severe, often life-altering injuries. There were at least 13,529 injuries, and one hospital in Dhaka alone treated 736 patients with eye injuries. Based on information provided, over three-quarters (78 per cent) of deaths were caused by firearms, including military rifles and shotguns loaded with lethal metal pellets. The violences were often incited by armed Awami League activists followed through by indiscriminate applications of force by the Police, RAB, and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel. Even helicopters were used to intimidate and terrorise protesters. More than 11,700 people were arrested and detained, according to information provided by the Police and RAB.

The UN report identified the underlying causes of human rights violations by the security forces of Bangladesh as follows: use of military rifles and metal pellet-loaded shotguns in public order management; outdated laws enabling the use of disproportionate force; militarisation of policing; politicisation of the security sector; institutionalised impunity and a politically compliant justice system; stifling of civic space and repressive legal framework; and structural discrimination cum grievances in economic governance.

The report also put forward a number of recommendations with the objective of reforming the security and justice sectors of Bangladesh, abolishing some repressive laws and institutions that stifled civic and political dissent, and bringing about changes to the existing political system cum governance. Specific recommendations included: prohibit the use of shotgun pellets or other lethal ammunitions to disperse crowds and immediately cease equipping the police with metal pellet ammunition for public order management; reform public order management by emphasising less lethal tactics and de-escalatory approach; replace the Police Act 1861 and the Police Regulations with human rights-compliant laws and regulations; establish National Police Commission for fair, transparent, and merit-based police recruitment, promotion, transfer, and removal; establish an independent commission for investigating violations of laws, rules and regulations by the police; set up similar independent accountability cum justice mechanism for the Armed Forces and the BGB.

While commenting on the report, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk claimed: "The testimonies and evidence we gathered paint a disturbing picture of rampant State violence and targeted killings that are amongst the most serious violations of human rights, and which may also constitute international crimes. Accountability and justice are essential for national healing and for the future of Bangladesh". He further added that the best way forward for Bangladesh was to face the horrific wrongs committed during this period through a comprehensive process of truth-telling, healing, and accountability, taking measures to redress the legacies of serious human rights violations, and ensuring they can never happen again through a national accountability and reform process.

Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed is a former Editor of Bangladesh Quarterly.​