Bangladesh: Commission Formed By Yunus-Led Government Alleges India’s Role In 'Enforced Disappearances'

The ties between India and Bangladesh are set to strain further as an inquiry commission formed by Bangladesh's interim government alleged New Delhi's involvement in “enforced disappearances” during Sheikh Hasina's tenure as prime minister.

The state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, citing the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, quoted the commission as saying, “The Indian involvement in Bangladesh’s system of enforced disappearances is a matter of public record.”

Led by a retired Supreme Court judge, the five-member commission claimed there was a “persistent suggestion in law enforcement circles” that some Bangladeshi prisoners might still be held in Indian jails.

“We recommend the Ministries of Foreign and Home to extend their best efforts to identify any Bangladeshi citizens who may still remain incarcerated in India. It is beyond the jurisdiction of the commission to follow this trail outside Bangladesh,” the commission stated.

The commission in report have claimed to found intelligence information about the practice of captive exchanges between the two countries and the possible subsequent fate of the detainees.

The commission mentioned “two highly publicised cases” that provide insight on the operations of enforced disappearances. One case involved Shukhranjan Bali, who was abducted from the Bangladesh Supreme Court premises and later found in an Indian jail.

The other case was that of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Salahuddin Ahmed, whose experience exemplifies the Bangladesh-India rendition system.

Last week, the five-member commission submitted an interim report titled “Unfolding The Truth” to Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

The report estimated that over 3,500 enforced disappearances had occurred.

The commission also claimed the the involvement of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s now-absconding defense adviser, retired major general Tarique Ahmed Siddique, along with a sacked major general, two senior police officers, and several other officials in the enforced disappearances.

The commission alleged that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), comprising members of the army, navy, air force, and police, was involved in abductions, torture, and detentions.

Proposals from the commission included dismantling RAB and amending or scrapping the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.

Also Read: Prime Minister Modi Receives Kuwait’s Highest Honour 'Order Of Mubarak Al-Kabeer'