By TON Research Section

Recent years have seen a rise in enforced disappearances in Bangladesh. Apart from enforced disappearances, serious human rights violations like torture, extrajudicial executions, and imprisonments have been witnessed in the country. According to the activists, the citizens, opposition members, media activists, and other political dissenters are subjected to the violence by government and law enforcement agencies. Both the Awami League (AL) led by current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid and the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) have pursued counter-terrorism measures to suppress extremist groups active in the country. However, Human rights organizations and activists have argued that these measures are to undermine human rights and rule of law. 

Bangladesh’s government created an elite paramilitary force in 2004 known as Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to counter terrorism and to control the deteriorating security situation. Initially, this force gained strong support from around the country. Albeit, after that, RAB was accused of serious human rights violations and abuses of power. The allegations of extrajudicial killings, abductions and torture became common. According to the human rights activist’s freedom of expression and other civil liberties were the reasons behind these intentional killings and abductions. Human rights organizations have urged government to disband RAB. Bangladesh security forces have long experienced allegations of extrajudicial killings while the government has attributed the violence to local militants. However, the targeted groups or persons have illegitimately used social media platforms, videos, publications and other ways to spread their ideology against government across the country to gain more followers. Albeit, no law allows enforced disappearance.

Human rights activists IN Bangladesh claim that the new laws are misused to suppress opposition against government and facilitate in identifying the targets. They claim that Anti-Terrorism Act, which was enacted in 2009 and amended twice, moreover, the Digital Security Act 2018, Information & Communication Technology Act (Amendment) 2013 and Narcotics Control Act 2018 are the legal ways to perpetrate human rights violations. 

Human Rights Watch made the appeal and is calling for a United Nations probe into the alleged enforced disappearances of Bangladesh opposition activists, demanding sanctions on the officials found responsible while publishing its report titled “Where No Sun Can Enter: A Decade of Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh”, ahead of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30, 2021. The report is based on over 115 interviews conducted between July 2020 and March 2021 with victims, their family members, and witnesses to enforced disappearances. This report finds out that Bangladesh’s government officials have repeatedly denied about the detentions and enforced disappearances. Moreover, the government has refused to take steps to know the whereabouts of victims of enforced disappearances.

According to a Joint Statement by 12 human rights groups, “From January 1, 2009 to July 31, 2020, at least 572 people have been reported forcibly disappeared by security forces and law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh. While some were eventually released, shown arrested, or discovered killed by security forces and law enforcement agencies in so-called “crossfire” encounters, the whereabouts of many of them remain unknown.”

The report released by the rights watchdog states that the reported extrajudicial killings by security forces skyrocketed ahead of the January 2014 elections from 70 reported cases in 2012 to 329 cases in 2013, a nearly 400 percent increase. Enforced disappearances similarly increased dramatically ahead of the 2014 election, particularly targeting opposition parties. According to human rights organizations, in 2013 there were reportedly 54 alleged enforced disappearances, a more than 100 percent increase from 26 alleged enforced disappearances the previous year.

The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the UN Committee against Torture, the UN Human Rights Committee and other organisations have expressed their concern over the Bangladesh government’s failure to disclose information regarding arbitrary arrests, unacknowledged detention, and enforced disappearances. Human Rights Watch said that United Nations human rights experts should lead an independent international investigation into enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s government has faced severe criticism over enforced disappearances from the Human rights organisations as these reports are Indian sponsored. Human rights activists blame Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the enforced disappearances but till now despite actions, it is being taken as if the PM has not responded to the requests for comment on the allegations. According to the recent report of Human Rights Watch the disappearances have become a “hallmark” of PM Sheikh Hasina’s rule since 2009, a tool for curtailing free speech and criticism. However, the Awami League government has denied involvement in the abductions but protection of citizens is the responsibility of government and in addition to that it has the responsibility to ensure that the law enforcement agencies do not violate human rights. Bangladesh’s government need to bring reforms within security forces for human rights protection.  If government is denying about its involvement in abductions and extrajudicial executions, it needs to take action against Indian agents tarnishing the image of Bangladesh and order impartial and independent investigations of the matter because the onus is on the government.