Human rights organization Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has called for reconsideration of a proposal to keep investigations into enforced disappearance allegations against law enforcement agencies within the law enforcement system itself.
The organization said no agency accused of enforced disappearance, or anybody under its direct control, should be tasked with investigating such allegations. Instead, investigations should be entrusted to an independent investigative body, an independent National Human Rights Commission or a special authority for investigating enforced disappearances.
HRSS made the demand at a meeting held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club on Saturday afternoon, ahead of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances 2026, which will be observed on Sunday.
The organization described enforced disappearance as a serious human rights violation and said it directly undermines the rule of law, citizens’ security and state accountability.
When a person is detained or abducted by the state, or by a state-authorized or state-backed actor, and authorities deny their whereabouts or conceal their fate and location, it violates not only the individual’s rights to liberty and security but also subjects their family to prolonged uncertainty, mental anguish and denial of justice, HRSS said.
Referring to the final report of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, formed to investigate allegations of disappearances over an extended period in Bangladesh, HRSS said the commission found that most disappearances were politically motivated.
The investigation also uncovered allegations of involvement by various levels of the security and law enforcement agencies, as well as the existence of a central command structure, it said.
The commission said it had received 1,569 complaints. It also reported that the bodies of 36 people had been recovered following their disappearance, while 251 remained missing.
The commission believed the actual number of enforced disappearances could be higher, HRSS said.
Miraj Sheikh’s disappearance
The HRSS meeting also highlighted the disappearance of Miraj Sheikh, a fisherman and motorcycle rider from the Joymoni area of Mongla upazila in Bagerhat, as an example of the current situation.
According to HRSS, Miraj was picked up in plain clothes on April 10 and taken to a local Coast Guard pontoon. Coast Guard members later took him by speedboat towards the Coast Guard base camp in Dighraj.
His family has approached various authorities seeking information about his whereabouts. Published reports also said the High Court ordered authorities to find Miraj and produce him before the court.
According to information collected by HRSS, the incident is the first suspected case of enforced disappearance since July-August 2024.
Against this backdrop, the organization questioned whether an investigation by the police could ensure genuine independence and impartiality if the allegations in Miraj’s case are against the Coast Guard.
Concerns over proposed law
Referring to the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance 2025, HRSS said the ordinance had given the National Human Rights Commission an important role in investigating allegations of enforced disappearance.
However, as the ordinance is no longer in effect, the government has initiated the process of formulating a new Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Act, 2026. The cabinet approved the draft in August 2026.
HRSS said recognizing enforced disappearance as a crime under the proposed law is a positive step. However, the law would fail to achieve its primary objective if it contains serious weaknesses regarding the independence of investigations and protection of victims.
The organization particularly raised concerns over the proposal to entrust law enforcement agencies with investigating allegations of enforced disappearance against law enforcement agencies.
The meeting called for ensuring justice for past enforced disappearances while taking effective legal and institutional measures to prevent such incidents in the present and future.
HRSS said allegations of enforced disappearance between 2009 and 2024 must be investigated promptly, independently and impartially, and those responsible must be brought to justice.
Not only field-level members but also those who issued orders, planned the operations and held responsibility within the chain of command must be held accountable, it said.
The organization also called for clearly defining “command responsibility” in cases of enforced disappearance.
In serious crimes such as enforced disappearance, liability should not be limited to those directly involved, HRSS said. Senior officials who knew or should have known about such crimes but failed to prevent them or take action must also be held accountable under the law.
Before the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Act, 2026 is finally passed by parliament, HRSS called for meaningful consultations with civil society, families of victims, lawyers, human rights activists and experts.
The organization also demanded that investigations into allegations against law enforcement agencies be placed under an independent mechanism, punitive provisions that could intimidate complainants be reconsidered, and the safety of victims and witnesses be ensured.
It also called for specific investigation deadlines and accountability for violations of those deadlines.
HRSS further demanded that accused government officials not receive any special immunity during investigations or trials, and that victim families be regularly informed about the progress of investigations.
Call for stronger rights commission
The organization also called for genuine independence for the National Human Rights Commission.
The commission should be developed as an independent national human rights institution compliant with the Paris Principles rather than being turned into a formal body under government control, HRSS said.
It called for guarantees of the commission’s financial and administrative independence, its authority to appoint its own investigators and conduct independent investigations against security forces, and its power to summon documents and evidence, require witnesses to appear, and inspect detention and custody centers.
HRSS also called for compensation, legal assistance, medical and mental health support, educational assistance and, where necessary, social rehabilitation for victims of enforced disappearance and their families.
The families of victims must also be guaranteed their “right to truth” — the right to know what happened to their loved ones, it said.
The organization demanded that, immediately after any person is detained, their identity, time and place of detention, responsible officer and legal grounds for detention be digitally recorded.
Families and lawyers should be informed promptly, while CCTV, digital custody registers and independent monitoring systems should be installed at all detention and custody centers, it said.
HRSS said justice for enforced disappearances is not a matter of political revenge but a question of state accountability, the rule of law and fundamental rights.
“Justice for past enforced disappearances is essential to preventing future disappearances,” the organization said, calling for a strong law and independent institutions capable of ensuring that no citizen can be made to disappear under the cover of state power.