Bangladesh Commission Warns of Ongoing Impunity for Hasina-Era Abuses

• Inquiry commission formed by Muhammad Yunus.
• Over 250 cases of enforced disappearances confirmed.
• Hasina is currently in self-imposed exile in India.

A commission appointed by the Bangladesh government is investigating the enforced disappearances carried out by security forces during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On Monday, it warned that the “culture of impunity” continues to thrive.

The Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances is looking into the human rights violations under Hasina’s rule, which include the extrajudicial killings of numerous political adversaries and the unlawful abduction of countless individuals.

This commission was established by the interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is currently facing significant political pressure as various parties prepare for elections anticipated early next year.

Bangladesh has a historically tumultuous political landscape marked by military coups, with the army holding considerable power.

“The incidents of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh were not mere aberrations but were symptomatic of a politicized system that not only condoned but often rewarded such misdeeds,” the commission stated in a report released by the interim administration on Monday.

“Worryingly, this culture of impunity still persists even after the government transition on August 5, 2024.”

The commission has confirmed over 250 cases of enforced disappearances that occurred during the 15 years of Hasina’s Awami League rule.

Commission Chief Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury remarked earlier this month that individual officers who participated in these disappearances bore responsibility, while the military as a whole should not be implicated.

Rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, released a statement urging security forces to fully cooperate with the commission by allowing unrestricted access to all detention facilities and providing records concerning detainees.

Hasina, 77, is living in self-imposed exile in India after her ousting last year. She has ignored orders to return to Dhaka to answer charges related to crimes against humanity, with her trial in absentia ongoing.