Enforced disappearances weren't isolated incidents, but instrument of governance: Commission

Enforced disappearances in Bangladesh over the past 15 years were not isolated deviations but a core instrument of governance, according to the final report of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.

The report said the practice was coordinated, institutional and politically driven crime, relying on a hidden detention infrastructure, coordinated security forces, routine torture, and a compliant justice system.

It produced devastating consequences for individuals, families, institutions, and the state itself, said the report titled "Unfolding the Truth: A Structural Diagnosis of Enforced Disappearance in Bangladesh".

The 229-page report was published today and is available for download on the commission's website.

After the release, the Chief Adviser's official Facebook wrote, enforced disappearances were not isolated incidents but a systematic, institutional and politically driven crime.

'Torture was central to the system'

The Commission's quantitative analysis, based on more than 1,900 complaints, suggests the true number of enforced disappearances between 2009 and 2024 may be two to three times higher.

Targets were selected based on political identity or dissent, followed by surveillance, abduction by plainclothes officers, incommunicado detention, systematic torture, and outcomes ranging from release without charge to fabricated cases or execution.

Torture was found to be central to the system, used to extract confessions, intimidate victims, and manufacture cases, found the commission. 

Disappearances peaked during election cycles, with victims largely political opponents, activists, critics, and dissenters. RAB, police, and intelligence agencies were repeatedly implicated. 

The scale and consistency indicated systematic planning rather than isolated misconduct.

The commission said claims of ignorance by senior officials were contradicted by geographic, testimonial, and documentary evidence, while national security arguments could not justify enforced disappearance.

Institutional machinery

The report identifies multiple security and intelligence agencies as central actors, including the RAB, DB, CTTC, DGFI, NSI), and BGB. Multiple secret detention facilities existed, often within official compounds, and many were deliberately concealed, restructured, or destroyed after August 2024 to erase evidence.

Senior officials were aware of these facilities, making it impossible to classify abuses as accidental or unauthorised. The Commission stressed that enforced disappearance constitutes a crime against humanity and is ongoing, demanding urgent prosecution.

It recommended that perpetrators, including senior officials, be tried under civilian law, applying command and superior responsibility. Suspects abroad should be actively pursued, and swiftly solvable cases prioritised to prevent evasion.

Long-term impact

The report details the long-term consequences of the practice. Survivors suffer severe physical and psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent injuries. 

Women and children have endured disproportionate harm, facing economic deprivation, social stigma, and isolation. Families are left fractured by prolonged uncertainty, financial ruin, and fear.

Institutionally, enforced disappearance has eroded the criminal justice system, with courts, prosecutors, and police co-opted to legitimise abuse, according to the report. 

Security forces have experienced profound decay, with professionalism replaced by coercion and impunity. Strategic national risks include loss of public trust, and weakened international credibility.

The commission added that accountability must lie in civilian courts and that enforced disappearance is a continuing crime demanding prosecution.

Dismantling the system

The report said disappearances constitute crime against humanity, necessitating prosecution through civilian courts under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, and ordinary criminal law where applicable. 

It recommends holding leaders accountable under command and superior responsibility, pursuing individuals who have left the country, and prioritising swiftly solvable cases to prevent escape.

The report calls for permanent closure of secret detention facilities, strict custody rules, and civilian oversight of security agencies. 

Officers implicated in disappearance or torture should be suspended, or removed. Counterterrorism and cyber laws should be reformed, confessions under torture prohibited, and due process strictly enforced.

Victims and families should be central to justice, with official recognition, medical and psychological support, financial compensation, and livelihood assistance. 

The commission urged a national DNA database, investigation of suspected mass graves, and respectful return of remains. Full implementation of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance, 2025, and strengthening of the National Human Rights Commission were also recommended.

The commission concluded that enforced disappearance was not a governance error but a deliberate method of control. Accountability, institutional reform, and victim-centred justice are essential to restore the rule of law and prevent repetition.