Inquiry Commission links Hasina to enforced disappearances
Staff Reporter :
The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance submitted its first interim report, titled “Unfolding The Truth,” to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday.
The report was handed over by the commission’s five-member team, led by retired Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka.
The commission’s findings point to the prima facie involvement of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with high-ranking officials of her administration and security forces.
These include her defence adviser, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, and sacked Major General Ziaul Ahsan.
Senior police officers Monirul Islam and Md. Harun-Or-Rashid were also implicated in several cases of enforced disappearances.
The commission revealed it had recorded 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances, with 758 complaints
already scrutinized. It estimates that the total number of such incidents across the country could exceed 3,500.
In a startling revelation, the commission highlighted the existence of a “systematic design” aimed at concealing enforced disappearances. Forces reportedly exchanged victims and segmented operations to ensure incidents remained undetected.
Moreover, individuals involved in carrying out these disappearances or extrajudicial killings often lacked knowledge about their victims, the commission said.
Call for Reforms and Recommendations
One of the key recommendations of the commission is the disbanding of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a controversial elite force accused of involvement in human rights violations.
Commission Chairman Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury stated that another interim report is expected in March, with a complete scrutiny of all allegations requiring at least another year.
“We are committed to uncovering the truth and bringing justice to the victims,” he said.Chief Adviser’s Commitment
Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus commended the commission for its work, emphasizing the importance of their findings.
“You are doing a very important job. We are ready to provide all kinds of support that you need,” he assured.
Prof. Yunus also expressed his intention to visit the Aynaghar-secret detention centers and joint interrogation cells identified by the commission-to gain firsthand knowledge of the victims’ experiences.
The meeting was attended by commission members Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activist Nur Khan, BRAC University academic Nabila Idris, and human rights activist Sajjad Hossain.
Also present were members of the interim government’s advisers’ council, including Adilur Rahman Khan and Sharmeen S Murshid, as well as Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser Md. Siraj Uddin Mia and Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.