Bangladesh Commission Links Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to Enforced Disappearances, Documents 1,676 Complaints and 758 Verified Cases

Dec 15, 2024, 02:22 AM

A Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh has found evidence implicating former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in incidents of enforced disappearances. The commission's chief, retired justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, stated that the report indicates Hasina's prima facie involvement. The first interim report was submitted to Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on December 14, 2024. The commission has documented 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances, verifying 758 cases. It also recommended disbanding the Rapid Action Battalion, a security force accused of human rights abuses. The inquiry highlights Hasina's alleged role as an instigator in these incidents over the past 15 years, raising significant concerns regarding human rights in Bangladesh.