Reports from Bangladesh indicate a troubling history of enforced disappearances, abductions, and extrajudicial killings under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. 

Over a span of 15 and a half years, political opponents, dissenters, and critics of the regime were systematically targeted, leaving a legacy of fear and repression. Following the government’s ousting on August 5 by a student-led uprising, an interim administration has begun investigating these allegations through a newly formed commission.

The Numbers Behind the Disappearances

The commission has so far registered 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances. Among these, 758 cases have undergone preliminary investigation, revealing a pattern of state-led oppression. The year 2016 saw the highest number of disappearances, with 130 cases reported. Significant numbers were also recorded in:

Advocacy groups like "Mayer Dak" (A Mother’s Call) estimate that 27% of the victims, or approximately 204 individuals, remain missing. By 2023, at least 155 people were still untraceable, including high-profile figures like BNP leaders Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam.

Tactics of Oppression

Testimonies from victims and their families have painted a disturbing picture of how enforced disappearances were carried out. Agencies like the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Detective Branch (DB), and the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) are among those implicated. Accounts of torture include:

• Victims’ lips being sewn together without anesthesia.
• Electric shocks administered to genitals and ears.
• Executions by gunshot, with bodies disposed of in rivers or under moving vehicles.

Several victims who attempted to escape were hunted down and killed, while others were subjected to relentless psychological and physical abuse.

Who Was Involved?

Sheikh Hasina is at the center of the commission’s findings, accused of orchestrating these disappearances. Key officials implicated include:

• Major General (Retd.) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, Defense Advisor.
• Major General Ziaul Hasan, former Director General of the National Telecommunications Monitoring Center (NTMC).
• Mohammad Monirul Islam and Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, senior police officials.

The role of surveillance technology has been highlighted, with security forces relying on mobile phone tracking to locate their targets. The NTMC and its predecessor, the National Monitoring Center (NMC), were instrumental in providing real-time information for these operations.

India’s Alleged Involvement

The commission has unearthed allegations of India’s involvement in Bangladesh’s enforced disappearances. Two high-profile cases exemplify these claims:

1. Sukhranjan Bali: Abducted from the Supreme Court premises, he was later discovered in an Indian prison.
2. Salahuddin Ahmed: Detained in 2015, Ahmed was handed over to Indian authorities. During his detention, Ahmed overheard Hindi-speaking interrogators discussing his capture and interrogation.

Reports suggest that detainee exchanges occurred between RAB and Indian security forces. A former soldier testified to witnessing such operations at the Tamabil border in 2011, where some detainees were executed immediately upon transfer.

How Were Targets Chosen?

The commission identified two primary methods of targeting:

1. Network-Based Targeting: Victims were tortured to reveal names, creating a chain reaction of abductions. Innocent individuals were often caught in the dragnet. Survivors admitted they were forced to name others under duress.
2. Direct Political Orders: Some disappearances were allegedly ordered by influential figures. The Narayanganj Seven Murders, for instance, were reportedly carried out under directives from senior RAB officials.

Survivors’ Accounts

Individuals like Hummam Quader Chowdhury shared chilling details of their release. He recalled being told by officials that he was being granted a "second chance" on the condition that he refrain from politics and leave the country.

Efforts for Justice

The interim commission aims to release its interim report by March, with a final report expected by 2025. The investigation seeks to identify all perpetrators, including any international collaborators. The search for clandestine detention sites known as "Aynaghar" (Mirror Houses) is also ongoing.

Meanwhile, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has begun legal proceedings against those involved, offering some hope to victims and their families. However, achieving justice remains a complex and prolonged process.

Bangladesh faces a pivotal moment as it reckons with its past. The allegations of systematic oppression and India’s involvement demand thorough investigations and international scrutiny. For victims and their families, justice is long overdue, and the nation must ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.