Commission finds Hasina's link with enforced disappearances

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has submitted an interim report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, revealing evidence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's involvement in enforced disappearances.

The report, titled "Unfolding the Truth", was submitted to the Chief Adviser on Saturday, December 14, at 5:00pm at the state guesthouse Jamuna. 

According to the commission, there is prima facie evidence implicating former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in enforced disappearances, along with high-ranking officials from her administration and security forces. Those named include her defense adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre Major General (dismissed) Ziaul Ahsan, and senior police officers Monirul Islam and Md. Harun-Or-Rashid.

The commission has so far recorded 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances, with 758 cases already scrutinized. They estimate the total number of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh could exceed 3,500.

Recommendations and findings

The report recommended the disbandment of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and highlighted a "systematic design" intended to obscure the incidents of enforced disappearances. According to the commission, victims were deliberately exchanged among forces, and operations were fragmented to ensure perpetrators lacked detailed knowledge about the individuals involved.

Justice Chowdhury stated that the commission would deliver another interim report in March and requested at least another year to complete the scrutiny of all received allegations.

Chief Adviser's response

Professor Muhammad Yunus thanked the commission for its efforts and pledged full support for their work.

"You are doing a critically important job. We are ready to provide any support you need," he said.

He also expressed his intention to visit Aynaghar—secret detention centers and joint interrogation cells identified by the commission—to gain firsthand insight into the victims' suffering.

Present at the meeting were commission members Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activists Nur Khan and Sajjad Hossain, BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris, and members of the Interim Government’s advisory council, including Adilur Rahman Khan and Sharmeen S. Murshid. Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser Md Siraj Uddin Mia and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also in attendance, among others.