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Published : 04 Mar 2025, 05:45 PM
Moinul Islam Chowdhury, head of the commission investigating enforced disappearances, has revealed that an inquiry is underway to determine the fate of 330 people who were "forcibly disappeared" under the erstwhile Awami League regime and have yet to return.
However, the former High Court judge acknowledged that the chances of their return remain slim.
Addressing a media briefing at the commission's office in Dhaka's Gulshan on Tuesday, he said that the authorities were verifying whether any of the missing individuals were among the Bangladeshi citizens currently imprisoned in India.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested a list of Bangladeshis being held in Indian prisons. India has provided a list of 1,067 detainees, which the commission is now reviewing to see if any of the missing persons are among them. More such lists are expected from India in the future," he said.
Moinul also said that police superintendents in border districts and Border Guard Bangladesh sector commanders have provided information about 140 people who were pushed back into Bangladesh from India since August. However, preliminary investigations have not confirmed whether any of them were victims of enforced disappearance.
He further highlighted the case of Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, who was reported missing from Dhamrai. On Dec 22, he was pushed back into Bangladesh through the Chapainawabganj border. The commission is currently investigating his case.
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government formed the panel on enforced disappearances to investigate alleged disappearances carried out by law-enforcing agencies under the former Awami League administration.
On Aug 27, the Cabinet Division issued a notification announcing the formation of the five-strong commission, headed by Moinul.
During the Awami League’s 15-year rule, incidents of extrajudicial killings under the pretext of "crossfire", enforced disappearances, and the recovery of bodies after individuals were taken by law-enforcing agencies were widely discussed.
Reports from various media outlets also revealed cases of detainees being tortured in custody and held in secret detention facilities for prolonged periods. Allegations have also surfaced against the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) for operating a covert detention facility known as "Ayna Ghar", where detainees were reportedly subjected to torture.
