Hasina was involved in an enforced disappearance, Bangladesh’s commission of inquiry said

Soon after Ex-PM Hasina fled, many human rights activists revealed that they were kept in prison for years at the House of Mirrors (Aynaghar) in Dhaka, with harsh and long interrogations. File | Photo Credit: AP

In a new development, the Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances set up by the interim government of Bangladesh filed a report on Saturday (December 14, 2024) claiming to have found “ex-PM Sheikh Hasina’s involvement” in the enforced disappearances. of the people during his reign.

The report suggested disbanding the anti-terror outfit Rapid Action Battalion which played a major role in fighting suspected terrorists and was accused of human rights abuses. The commission said it has recorded 1,676 cases of disappearance and that the number of such cases during Hasina may exceed 3,500.

Earlier, authorities arrested four people in connection with an attack on a minority Hindu community on December 3. The arrests came days after India’s Foreign Secretary visited Dhaka and urged the authorities to “acknowledge” attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

A case of violence against Hindus involved Akash Das’s social networking site which created communal tension in Sunamganj district, leading to attacks on Hindu businesses and places of worship. Those arrested in this incident are Ali Hossain (19), Sultan Ahmed Raju (20), Imran Hossain (31) and Shajahan Hossain (20).

In the investigation, a statement from the Office of the Chief Counsel said, “The chairman of the commission said they found the involvement of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior defense officials and her government, including her defense adviser, Major. General (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, in enforced disappearance.”

Presenting the report at a special event at the residence of Chief Counsel Mohammad Yunus, the commission informed that it will issue another interim report in March and will need another year to complete the processing of all the complaints received so far.

Apart from Ms. Hasina and Mr. Siddique, the commission also found the involvement of the former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center and dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, senior police officers Monirul Islam and Md. Harun-Or-Rashid “on several occasions. of enforced disappearance”. Presenting the report, the chairman of the commission said that they found a “systematic system” to avoid detection of cases of enforced disappearance.

The interim government established a commission under the chairmanship of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury on August 27. Other members of the commission are Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activist Nur Khan, BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris and human rights activist Sajjad Hossain. Bangladesh also joined the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances on August 30.

The commission was established after reports that disappearances and abductions of political dissidents, critics and human rights advocates occurred during the Hasina years. Soon after Ms. Hasina fled, several human rights activists revealed that they were held for years in the House of Mirrors (Aynaghar) prison in Dhaka, with harsh and lengthy interrogations.

Accepting the report, Mr. Yunus said, “You are doing a very important job. We are ready to give you all the support you need.” He said he will visit some of the secret detention centers and joint interrogation cells mentioned in the report.