Punishing perpetrators of 'Enforced Disappearance'

Since the inception of civilisation, enforced disappearance has been a dark tool wielded by oppressive rulers to silence dissent. From ancient regimes to modern authoritarian governments, it has served as a weapon to eliminate opposition voices without due process. While history tells us this story time and again, it is sad to note that enforced disappearances still plague numerous third-world countries, where justice is often overshadowed by political motives and misuse of power. Bangladesh is a disturbing example of this phenomenon. During the last regime led by the Awami League (AL), enforced disappearance became a regular instrument used to intimidate and silence its opponents, political or otherwise. The victims included politicians, army officers, and human rights activists, who were often abducted by law enforcement agencies, leaving their families with agonising uncertainty.

After the ouster of the AL regime on August 5, many who had been victims of enforced disappearance were released. These individuals returned to tell harrowing tales of their sufferings in secret detention centres, where they endured physical and psychological torture. Their families, who lived with the agony of not knowing their loved ones' fate, also suffered immensely. Such brutality has left deep scars, not only on the victims and their families but also on the social fabric of Bangladesh. As a society, we cannot allow such crimes to remain hidden or go unpunished. It is the responsibility of the interim government, the judicial system, and civil society to seek justice for these victims and ensure that such abuses of power are never repeated.

The recently formed Enquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances has uncovered eight secret detention centres in and around Dhaka. The findings are shocking: approximately 1,600 complaints have been filed, implicating various law enforcement agencies. Specifically, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was cited in 172 cases, while other complaints linked the police's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, and the Detective Branch of police, among others. The scale of these abuses reveals an alarming breakdown of the rule of law. Rather than protecting citizens, these agencies became instruments of fear and oppression, betraying their mandate to serve and protect the public.

The physical conditions of these detention centres are a testament to the inhumane treatment inflicted on victims. In one cell operated by RAB, detainees were confined in a space measuring a mere 3.5 feet by 4 feet. With no natural light and only an open drain for sanitation, these cells forced individuals to endure extreme discomfort and indignity for years on end. Such facilities were designed not just to detain but to break the human spirit, underscoring the cruelty of enforced disappearance as a state-sanctioned crime.

The commission's findings reveal an even darker reality: evidence of "attempts to destroy evidence" linked to these secret cells. Law enforcement agencies have reportedly been destroying cells, painting over walls, and removing attachments used for torture, essentially erasing any proof of these heinous acts. Such attempts to cover up abuses suggest that those responsible are not only aware of their crimes but are also determined to evade accountability. This obstruction of justice is an insult to the victims and their families and a direct challenge to the ideals of transparency and rule of law.

State-sponsored abduction is a heinous crime. It is a gross violation of human rights and an assault on the very principles of justice. When law enforcement agencies, tasked with upholding the law, engage in enforced disappearances, they betray the trust of the people and undermine the very foundations of society. Exemplary punishment must be ensured for the perpetrators of these crimes. If these atrocities are allowed to go unpunished, future rulers may see enforced disappearance as a viable tool to silence dissent, and the cycle of fear and oppression will continue.

By holding the perpetrators accountable, we must send a powerful message that no one is above the law. This is a crucial step toward healing the wounds inflicted on victims and their families and restoring public trust in state institutions.

It is the responsibility of the government and the judiciary to act decisively in this matter, setting a precedent that enforced disappearance has no place in a society that claims to be governed by the rule of law. Only by addressing this dark chapter openly and honestly can Bangladesh hope to emerge as a just society.

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