Allegations of enforced disappearance against Coast Guard

The family of Bagerhat motorcycle driver Miraj Sheikh has alleged that he was picked up and forcibly disappeared by Coast Guard members. More than four months have passed since he was taken away on 10 April, yet no trace of him has been found.

These allegations were made at a press conference held Monday at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Auditorium of the National Press Club. Miraj’s family and the Human Rights Support Society held the press conference seeking his return.

At the press conference, Miraj’s sister, Liza Islam, said that around 7 pm on 10 April, two Coast Guard members in plainclothes, along with a man named Mizan Majhi who was with them, arrived by boat at the Jaymoni area from Kochghat Harbaria Station in Joymoni Thora, Bagerhat.

Liza Islam alleged that the Coast Guard members put Miraj onto Mannan’s fishing boat and took him to Harbaria Station. Approximately 30 to 40 minutes after taking him there, a Coast Guard speedboat arrived from the direction of Mongla. The speedboat had approximately 8-10 uniformed Coast Guard members aboard.

“The speedboat clearly had ‘Bangladesh Coast Guard’ written on it. They took Miraj Sheikh away in that speedboat,” Liza said. She claimed the incident took place in front of villagers present and Miraj’s wife.

After Miraj was taken away, a General Diary (GD) was filed on 23 April. When Coast Guard members were contacted on 10, 11, and 12 April, they acknowledged that Miraj was in their custody. They also assured that he would be released if no offense was found against him.

“On the morning of 11 April, when Miraj’s wife went to the Digraj Coast Guard base, a member named Ukasing said Miraj would be taken on an operation. An official from inside told them to give him something to eat, as he had not eaten since the previous night. However, when they went in the afternoon, an official named Shahin denied that Miraj had been detained at all,” alleged Miraj’s sister Liza.

At the press conference, Miraj’s wife, Mukta Fatema, said that they had held a human chain to get her husband back. Following that, they were baton-charged. She was attacked. They were beaten and a case was filed against them. They subsequently spent 27 days in jail.

Mukta Fatema said that even after all this, they have still not received any information about her husband. Miraj’s mother, Taslima Begum, said, “I want my son back.”

“Under existing law, a person can only be detained based on a specific allegation. After detention, they must be sent to court through the relevant police station for trial,” said human rights worker Nur Khan Liton.