A Group of Elites is involved in Enforced Disappearances: CA

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has submitted its second interim report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Members of the commission, led by Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, a retired High Court judge, submitted the report to the chief adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday.

Among the members present were Nur Khan, Sazzad Hossain, and Nabila Idris. Also present were Housing Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman.

After the report submission, Yunus said: “Arrangements must be made to publish the report both on the website and in book form. There is interest not only in Bangladesh but also globally regarding this matter.”

The chief adviser said: “What horrific incidents! The ‘gentlemen’ of our society, our own relatives, committed these acts. Based on everything you have found, there should be a horror museum.

"These are spine-chilling events. The cruelty and harshness of such detention centres—being confined day after day, month after month, in a three-foot by three-foot cell—should be exposed to the public.”

He also instructed the commission members to identify urgent actions from the report and specify which ministries are responsible for each, so the government can begin work within a short time.

One commission member told the chief adviser that the incidents are so horrific that many involved officials and others suffer from remorse. "They have contacted us as an effort for self-purification. Two officers even wrote letters requesting release from involvement. These letters were found at Ganabhaban. The then army chief publicly acknowledged these letters.”

The commission members said that so far, 1,850 complaints have been received, and among them, 1,350 complaints have been verified. They also said the number of complaints could exceed 3,500.

They further reported that more than 300 missing persons who were victims of enforced disappearance are still unaccounted for.

The commission chief requested the chief adviser to take initiatives so that families of the missing persons can at least conduct transactions as legal heirs (beneficiaries).

He said that under existing law, if a person is missing for seven years, they can be declared dead. He recommended amending the law to reduce this period to five years. Yunus advised the commission to inform the government of the necessary steps urgently so that appropriate action can be taken.

Thanking the commission members, Yunus said: “You have been working despite fear, threats, and intimidation. You are an inspiration to the people of this country. In the future, those who work for human rights will be inspired by you.”