Enforced disappearance: Complaints can be lodged against all agencies, including DGFI, NSI

The government has issued a public notification seeking information on missing persons, urging victims, families, or witnesses of enforced disappearances to provide details to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.

People can lodge complaints against any law enforcement agency including - Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch, Intelligence Branch, Ansar Battalion, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Intelligence Agency (NSI), and defense forces or Intelligences, reads a public notification issued today (13 September).

Family members, relatives or anyone who witnessed the disappearance from 1 January 2010 to 5 August 2024 can seek help of the commission by calling 01701662120 and 02-58812121 or emailing [email protected].

The complaint can also be filed by appearing in person at the office of the Commission [96, Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka] between 15 September to 30 September every working day from 10:30am to 4.00pm.

However, it is requested to make an appointment through the hotline for lodging the complaint as per the mentioned schedule. Each complaint shall contain, among other information, specific details of the alleged disappearance, place, date and time of the incident, names of the complainant and his parents, names of the victim and his parents, relationship of the complainant with the victim, postal address of the complainant and the victim, mobile number, e -Mail and the accused's address or other details.

It is also requested to submit sufficient evidence in support of the missing incident described in the complaint, along with a list of names and addresses of the witnesses and national identity cards of the complainant and the victim (if any). Further action will be taken by the Commission as necessary by communicating with the complainant and the accused person or his institution or organization.

It is to be noted that the commission will take the initiative to collect the necessary information and receive assistance by separately communicating with relevant institutions and organisations conducting various activities, including the collection of information related to disappearances in the country.

The government set up a commission of inquiry on 27 August to trace the victims of enforced disappearances. 

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.

The other four members of the commission are Justice Md Farid Ahmed Shibli, another former judge of the High Court, rights activists Nur Khan and Sazzad Hossain, and Nabila Idris, a teacher at BRAC University.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed yesterday (12 September) sent various information, including a list of 64 people who were forcibly disappeared during the previous government, to the inquiry commission formed for the purpose of "finding the persons who have been forcibly disappeared".