Bangladesh commission implicates Sheikh Hasina in enforced disappearances
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A commission formed by Bangladesh’s interim government to investigate enforced disappearances has reported that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was involved in such cases during her 16-year tenure. The findings were submitted on Saturday to Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government in Dhaka, sparking widespread concern about human rights abuses during her regime.
The five-member Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance was established on August 27, led by retired justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, to examine the role of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in enforced disappearances. The commission was tasked with identifying missing persons and probing the circumstances under which they disappeared.
In its initial findings, the commission stated that 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances had been registered, of which 758 cases had been scrutinised. The total number of disappearances in Bangladesh during Hasina’s tenure could exceed 3,500, it noted.
The commission pointed to the involvement of high-ranking officials in the Awami League government, including Hasina’s defence adviser, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique. It alleged a deliberate strategy to conceal these disappearances and suggested that those responsible often acted without full knowledge of their victims.
The commission also criticised the Rapid Action Battalion, an anti-terrorism unit that has faced repeated accusations of human rights violations, recommending its disbandment. Additionally, it highlighted India’s purported involvement in these cases, describing it as a matter of public record.
Sheikh Hasina, who has consistently denied any involvement in enforced disappearances, resigned from her post in early August following escalating protests against her government. Student-led demonstrations opposing a controversial government job quota scheme in July grew into broader dissent, culminating in her departure from the country. She fled to India on August 5, and Yunus assumed leadership of the interim government on August 8.
The commission’s report underscores the gravity of enforced disappearances during Hasina’s tenure and signals ongoing investigations. Chowdhury noted that the commission would require at least a year to process all complaints, with an additional interim report expected in March. The findings raise serious questions about the governance and accountability of security forces under the Awami League administration, casting a shadow over Hasina’s legacy.