Ex-Jubo Dal leader accuses Hasina of ‘disappearance’

A former Jubo Dal leader has filed a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal, accusing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina of orchestrating his enforced disappearance and torture.

Mashiur Rahman Mamun submitted the complaint on Monday after meeting the chief prosecutor. He alleged that on February 23, 2015, he was picked up by plainclothes law enforcement officers at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport while preparing to travel to Bangkok, reports media.

According to Mamun, he was blindfolded and handcuffed before being taken to an undisclosed location, where he was held in secret detention for six months. During that time, he claims he was subjected
to severe torture that caused lasting physical damage.

“I used to run five miles a day, but now I can barely walk and depend on others,” he said.
Mamun stated that he was later handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) police on August 23, 2015, and produced before a court. After two rounds of remand, he spent nearly two years in Dhaka Central Jail before securing bail from the High Court.

He identified himself as a former central committee member of Jubo Dal, linked to BNP leaders Mirza Abbas and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, and said he had long been involved in opposition politics.

Mamun alleged that his disappearance was ordered at the highest levels of the previous administration but declined to name other individuals, citing concerns that suspects might flee.

Now living in London, he said he requires long-term medical treatment. His allegations were also documented in a BBC investigative report published on January 4, 2024, which cited UK medical records detailing the physical and psychological impact of the alleged abuse.