Amidst allegations of enforced disappearances by security forces during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, Bangladesh’s new authorities have initiated investigations into over 600 cases of disappearances. Human Rights Watch reported that nearly 100 people remain missing, with many detainees being affiliated with rival political parties. Hasina’s government has consistently denied these claims, attributing some disappearances to drownings in the Mediterranean.
A five-member committee, established by the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, will probe into paramilitary units such as the Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh, known for human rights violations. The committee has 45 days to submit its report, welcomed by groups advocating for the release of detainees. They seek justice for the missing and want full transparency in the investigation process.
The United Nations preliminary report indicated over 600 casualties prior to Hasina’s ouster, prompting families to desperately await news of their missing loved ones. As the investigations unfold, hopes are pinned on the return of those disappeared and accountability for those responsible.