A preliminary report claims that Bangladesh's former leader orchestrated a program involving the enforced disappearances of thousands, raising serious human rights concerns.
Ex-Bangladeshi PM Accused of Systematic Enforced Disappearances
Ex-Bangladeshi PM Accused of Systematic Enforced Disappearances
Inquiry findings suggest a coordinated effort by Sheikh Hasina's regime to silence dissent through abductions.
In a shocking preliminary report released by a commission appointed by Bangladesh's interim government, claims have emerged accusing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her senior officials of running a systematic program of enforced disappearances. This alleged campaign has left thousands missing and is said to have been in operation for the entirety of Hasina’s nearly 15-year tenure.
The findings come in the wake of Hasina's removal from power this summer after intense public protests highlighting her increasingly authoritarian rule. After her flight to India, a surge of families of the missing individuals has emerged, demanding clarity and justice for their loved ones. Reports surfaced of victims previously confined in hidden detention centers finally disclosing their traumatic experiences.
The commission, led by retired judge Mainul Islam Chowdhury, has recorded over 1,600 instances of enforced disappearances since beginning its inquiry in late August. However, they suspect the total number of victims could be as high as three times that figure, consisting mainly of political adversaries and dissenters. This government-sanctioned operation was reportedly characterized by a "central command structure" aimed at evading detection, implicating not just Hasina but her closest advisers, many of whom are now in exile.
The inquiry has also identified several clandestine facilities believed to have been used for detaining individuals, alongside harrowing accounts of systemic torture. The revelations from this inquiry echo the urgent need for a reassessment of human rights practices in Bangladesh, as survivors and their families call for accountability and an end to years of enforced disappearances under a shadowy authoritarian regime.
The findings come in the wake of Hasina's removal from power this summer after intense public protests highlighting her increasingly authoritarian rule. After her flight to India, a surge of families of the missing individuals has emerged, demanding clarity and justice for their loved ones. Reports surfaced of victims previously confined in hidden detention centers finally disclosing their traumatic experiences.
The commission, led by retired judge Mainul Islam Chowdhury, has recorded over 1,600 instances of enforced disappearances since beginning its inquiry in late August. However, they suspect the total number of victims could be as high as three times that figure, consisting mainly of political adversaries and dissenters. This government-sanctioned operation was reportedly characterized by a "central command structure" aimed at evading detection, implicating not just Hasina but her closest advisers, many of whom are now in exile.
The inquiry has also identified several clandestine facilities believed to have been used for detaining individuals, alongside harrowing accounts of systemic torture. The revelations from this inquiry echo the urgent need for a reassessment of human rights practices in Bangladesh, as survivors and their families call for accountability and an end to years of enforced disappearances under a shadowy authoritarian regime.
