Commission questions unverified media coverage of enforced disappearance victims' confessions

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance has questioned the frequent media coverage of fabricated accounts of alleged offences of the victims without any scrutiny.

"To cover up the illegal nature of their enforced disappearance, these victims were then 'shown arrested' and implicated in fabricated cases," the commission said in its report.

The five-member commission led by retired justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury handed over the report titled "Unfolding The Truth" to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna here on Saturday.

The report said the victims of enforced disappearance were often presented to the media, where fabricated accounts of their alleged offences were shared.

"These stories were frequently reported by the media without skepticism or scrutiny. The media's failure to question these implausible narratives, especially as they pertain to terrorism and its role in perpetuating such practices warrant serious examination to prevent future recurrences," it said.

During interviews with the law enforcement officers, the commission found that their superiors maintained excellent relationships with the media.

"In some instances, these relationships reportedly included financial transactions, further complicating the impartiality of media reporting in such cases," said the commission report.

When these fabricated stories were publicised, victims and their families often faced severe social repercussions.

Interviews reveal that many victims and their families were ostracised by their communities, regardless of the falsity of the allegations.

The commission said this troubling dynamic highlights the urgent need for the media to adopt a more critical and responsible approach in such cases, as well as engage in significant introspection.

Many disappeared individuals were handed over to the police or produced in courts under baseless allegations made using various laws, including the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009; the Arms Act, 1878; the Explosive Substances Act, 1908; the Special Powers Act, 1974; and the Digital Security Act, 2018 (subsequently replaced by the Cyber Security Act, 2023), the report said.

These manipulations not only obscure the true nature of enforced disappearances but also perpetuate the sufferings of victims, who are forced to navigate a deeply flawed and punitive legal system for years afterwards, it said.

"We have documented hundreds of such instances across the 15-year period, spanning various locations and involving multiple security forces," it said.

"This systematic practice has revealed discernible patterns in the way these cases are fabricated, which may provide further evidence of enforced disappearances," the report said.

The commission has so far analysed preliminarily 758 complaints, categorised into victims who resurfaced and those who are still missing.

Twenty-seven percent of victims of enforced disappearance are still missing while 73% of victims resurfaced/alive, the report added.