Five-member commission formed to probe enforced disappearances

The interim government has formed a five-member commission to investigate cases of enforced disappearances involving various intelligence and law enforcement agencies since 2010.

The commission, led by retired High Court Judge Moinul Islam Chowdhury, aims to identify the individuals who have gone missing and investigate the circumstances surrounding their disappearances, according to a circular issued by the Cabinet Division today.

The other members of the commission are Md Farid Ahmed Shibli, a retired additional judge of the High Court, Nur Khan, a human rights activist, Nabila Idris, a faculty member at BRAC University, and Sajjad Hossain, a human rights activist.

The commission has been asked to submit a report to the government within 45 working days.

According to the circular, signed by Cabinet Division Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain, the scope of the investigation covers incidents from 1 January 2010 to 5 August 2024. 

It includes all cases of enforced disappearances allegedly carried out by members of the Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch, Detective Branch, Ansar Battalion, National Security Intelligence (NSI), Defense Forces, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and the Coast Guard.

Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1956, the commission is responsible for documenting the details of each case of enforced disappearance and making appropriate recommendations to the authorities concerned.

The commission will notify the relatives of forcibly disappeared individuals if they are located. It will collect relevant information from any other agency or organisation investigating a missing person.

According to the circular, the Cabinet Division will provide secretarial support to the commission and cover its necessary expenses. The commission may also enlist any public employee to assist in its work.

The chairman of the commission will enjoy the status and privileges of a judge of the Appellate Division while the commission members will enjoy the status and privileges of judges of the High Court Division.

After the Awami League government came to power in 2009, it faced allegations of involvement in the disappearances of opposition leaders and government critics.

Following the end of Sheikh Hasina's government on 5 August, several individuals have been released from the DGFI's notorious torture cell "Aynaghar". These individuals have alleged that the previous government forcibly abducted and detained them for several years.

Despite being missing for over a decade, BNP leaders Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam have yet to be found.

At an event last week, Asif Nazrul, law adviser of the interim government, announced the formation of the commission to investigate each case of disappearance.