ASK calls for judicial probe into Mongla fisherman’s alleged enforced disappearance

The rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has urged the authorities to immediately locate Miraj Sheikh, disclose accurate information to his family, conduct a judicial investigation into his alleged enforced disappearance and take legal action against those responsible if the allegation is substantiated.

In a statement to the press issued yesterday (28 July), it also called for prompt, impartial and effective investigations into every allegation of enforced disappearance or unlawful detention to ensure justice for victims and their families.

Miraj, 30, of Joymonir Ghol in Chila Union under Bagerhat's Mongla upazila, worked as a fisherman and transported passengers on a motorcycle for hire.

ASK said it conducted a two-day preliminary fact-finding mission on 16 and 17 May, interviewing Miraj's family, witnesses, journalists, police and Coast Guard officials.

Its representatives also visited the scene and have continued following the case.

According to ASK, Miraj's family and several witnesses claimed that plainclothes individuals identifying themselves as Coast Guard members forcibly took him from outside one Al Amin's tea stall at around 7pm on 10 April.

ASK, quoting witnesses, said he was then placed aboard a Coast Guard speedboat, where seven to eight uniformed personnel were present.

Miraj's wife claimed she saw him in Coast Guard custody at the Harbaria station pontoon before he was taken away by speedboat.

Miraj has not been seen since.

His family said he was neither produced in court nor turned over to police and that they have received no information about his whereabouts.

The Coast Guard, meanwhile, denied detaining Miraj.

Lt Cmdr Mahbub Hossain told ASK that no such person is in its custody.

He claimed a vested group has raised the allegation because Coast Guard operations have stopped illegal activities in Joymonir Ghol.

Mongla police said a general diary has been filed but that the Coast Guard has provided no official information about Miraj's detention or arrest.

The family alleged that police initially refused to accept a GD naming the Coast Guard.

A GD was eventually recorded on 23 April stating that Miraj had gone missing from his home.

Miraj's wife also claimed that a Coast Guard station in-charge told a local union parishad member on the night of the incident that Miraj had been taken for questioning and would later be released.

ASK said the consistent accounts from Miraj's family and witnesses, set against the Coast Guard's denial, raises serious human rights concerns requiring an independent, transparent and credible investigation.

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch urged the government to investigate Miraj's alleged disappearance, describing it as the first known case of enforced disappearance since the July Uprising. It also called on the authorities to establish his whereabouts.

Before that, on 12 July, following a habeas corpus petition filed by Miraj's father, the High Court ordered law enforcement agencies to locate Miraj and produce him before the court within 15 days.