Dhaka: The commission instituted by the interim government to investigate incidents of enforced disappearances during the ousted regime has announced that it is currently examining cases involving 300 victims who have yet to return. "The investigation regarding 300 victims of enforced disappearances who are yet to return is ongoing," stated the commission's chairman, retired High Court judge Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, during a media briefing at the commission's Gulshan office.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the commission has received 1,752 complaints of enforced disappearance and has completed the initial scrutiny of approximately 1,000 cases by reviewing related documents and evidence. Justice Chowdhury reported that statements have been recorded from 280 complainants who testified in person, as well as depositions from 45 officers representing law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Police have informed the commission that 140 individuals were pushed into Bangladesh from India after August 5, 2024. This follows the commission's request for information from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sector commanders and police superintendents in bordering districts. The commission awaits further details from BGB and police for their continued investigation into the missing individuals.
Justice Chowdhury noted that according to the commission's information, at least one missing person named Mohammad Rahmat Ullah from Dhamrai was pushed back into Bangladesh through the Gomastapur border in Chapainawabganj district. The foreign ministry has also provided the commission with a list of 1,067 Bangladeshis detained in various Indian prisons over the past two and a half years. The commission is examining whether any names on this list correspond to those of missing persons.
The commission chairman revealed that visits were made to secret detention centers operated by DGIE, CTTC, and RAB in Dhaka, Bogura, Narayanganj, Rajshahi, and Chattogram. Authorities have been instructed to maintain these facilities as they are.
The five-member inquiry commission, established on August 27, aims to identify and locate individuals who were forcibly disappeared by various intelligence and law enforcement agencies between January 1, 2010, and August 5, 2024. Retired Judge Justice Farid Ahmed Shibli, rights activist Noor Khan, BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris, and rights activist Sazzad Hossain were present at the briefing.