Army, Navy not institutionally involved in enforced disappearances, but officers were: Inquiry commission
Bangladesh Army was aware of the incidents of enforced disappearance, but it was not institutionally responsible, says commission member and human rights activist Nur Khan Liton
The Armed Forces Division, consisting of the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy, and the Bangladesh Air Force, was not involved in enforced disappearances as an institution, but individual officers from these forces were linked to the crime, said Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of the Commission for Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.
Speaking at a press conference at the commission's office in the capital today (19 June), he said, "Many officers from the Army and Navy served in agencies like the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, National Security Intelligence, and the Rapid Action Battalion were involved in the enforced disappearances."
Commission member and human rights activist Nur Khan Liton added that while the Bangladesh Army was aware of the incidents of enforced disappearance, it was not institutionally responsible.
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Justice Moyeenul said the commission had found evidence and documentation that 253 people were subjected to enforced disappearance, after investigating 1,850 complaints. "We have already submitted this finding in our second interim report to the chief adviser."
The commission chief also said that Bangladesh's approach to countering terrorism is flawed. "The previous regime used terrorism as a tool to silence political opposition and suppress public dissent. We need anti-terrorism strategies similar to those in Malaysia or Indonesia."
He further said even after the political transition of power after 5 August 2024, many perpetrators and their collaborators are still holding powerful positions at the centre of the power and these people are still intimidating, harassing and wiping out evidences of the enforced disappearance incidents which also creates a reign of terror among the victim families.
"Enforced disappearance was used as the tool of systematic torture or oppression against the political oppositions and the dissents during the last authoritarian regime [Sheikh Hasina's tenure]," said Justice Moyeeul.
When asked about Indian involvement in enforced disappearance cases, the commission chief responded, "That does not fall under our jurisdiction. Unfortunately, we can't take any action as they are officials of another country."
He said perpetrators involved in enforced disappearances continue to threaten the victims and their families.
"Do you want us to expose the names involved [the officials involved in enforced disappearances]? They are still in contact with the victims and threatening families who are already traumatised," Justice Moyeenul said.
"We're not exposing the names of the perpetrators to ensure the safety of the victims' families. We have records of threatening phone calls," he added.
