Three Hundred and Fifty Victims of Enforced Disappearance Still Missing: Families Await Justice
Despite the fall of the Awami League government last August 5th, the hopes of the families of approximately 350 individuals who were victims of enforced disappearance (Ghum) remain unfulfilled. Whether these missing people are alive or dead remains unknown. Many continue to wait with tearful eyes for their loved ones to return. Meanwhile, the government-formed Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances is yet to provide information on the whereabouts of those still missing.
The Lingering Pain of Loss
The report features heart-wrenching stories of the families:
• Araf Hossain: Eleven-year-old Araf was born months after his father, Parvez Hossain, was picked up from Shahbagh in the capital by men identifying themselves as DB (Detective Branch) Police. Araf, who is now in fourth grade, has never known a father’s love. In a choked voice, he told Jugantor: “I have never seen my father. I feel his presence only through pictures. I don’t want anything else. I just want my father back.”
• Farzana Akhter (Wife of Parvez Hossain): Parvez, a former General Secretary of the Banshal Thana Juba Dal, was taken in 2013. His wife and two children are living with her sister. Their daughter, Adiba Islam Hridi (2 years 4 months old at the time of disappearance), is now in the eighth grade. Farzana expressed her despair: “After August 5th, I had hoped my husband would return, but he still hasn’t. I still await his return.” She detailed their severe financial hardship, especially since their son, Araf, has a heart condition requiring expensive treatment. She expressed disappointment that the Interim Government, while helping many, has not provided any assistance to them.
• Farzana Akhter Tumpa (Daughter of Kuddusur Rahman Chowdhury): Her father, businessman Md. Kuddusur Rahman Chowdhury, was abducted in 2014 over a land dispute by men in plainclothes identifying as law enforcement. His land has since been illegally occupied. She stated, “No action has been taken against those we complained about to the Commission. We have also lodged a complaint with the Tribunal. We have yet to find any trace of my father.”
• Syeda Shammi Sultana (Waled of Khaled Hasan Sohel): It has been twelve years since her husband, former President of Sutrapur Thana Chhatra Dal, Khaled Hasan Sohel, disappeared. Their only son, Sadman Shihab Arian, who lost his father at age five, is now 17 and still waits for him.
The Commission of Inquiry and Its Findings
According to ‘Mayer Daak’ (Mother’s Call), an organization formed by relatives of the disappeared, 705 people went missing during the Awami League era. While many have been released from “Ayna Ghar” (secret detention centers) since August 5th, approximately 350 are still missing.
• Afroza Islam (Coordinator, Mayer Daak): She stated that the families are suffering financially and that even those who were previously affluent have become destitute due to spending money searching for their relatives. She expressed frustration that the Commission is focusing more on those who have returned, showing indifference toward the families who have struggled for 12 to 13 years and remain bereaved.
• Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury (President, Commission of Inquiry): He told Jugantor, “We are addressing every complaint submitted to us. We will state what actions can be taken regarding those who have not yet returned, or what happened to them, in our final report. We cannot disclose this in advance.”
Commission Findings (According to the Report):
• Perpetrators: A documentary recently released by the Commission stated that every Bangladeshi force was involved in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings under the former government, with six law enforcement units playing the main role: RAB, Bangladesh Police, DB, CTTC, DGFI, and NSI.
• Modus Operandi: Victims were often subjected to inhumane torture in detention under the supervision of these forces. Many were killed. While initial killings resulted in bodies being left on roads, subsequent international pressure led to the disposal of the bodies.
• Accountability: Passports of 42 officers associated with these forces have been canceled due to their alleged involvement. The International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants against several officials, including 25 former and current army officers (15 serving, 9 retired, 1 on LPR). The 15 serving officers have reportedly surrendered.
• Evidence: Out of approximately 1,900 complaints submitted, 250 have been found to have irrefutable proof.
• India Handover: The investigation found that some victims were handed over to Indian law enforcement and later imprisoned there on charges of illegal entry. The Commission sought an incomplete list from the Indian government regarding Bangladeshi prisoners held from 2009 to August 5, 2024.
