BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday filed a complaint of enforced disappearance with the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of the International Crimes Tribunal. In the complaint, he named former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six others.
Salahuddin submitted the complaint to Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.
Alongside former PM Hasina, the others named in the complaint are former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque, dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, former DMP commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, and former SB chief Monirul Islam.
According to reports, Salahuddin Ahmed was allegedly picked up from a house in Dhaka’s Uttara on the night of March 10, 2015.
His wife, Hasina Ahmed, claimed at the time that members of law enforcement agencies had detained him and taken him to an unknown location. At that time, Salahuddin was serving as the party’s spokesperson.
Two months later, on May 11, 2015, he was found in a disoriented state wandering the streets of Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya state in India.
He was taken into custody by local police and later charged under India’s Foreigners Act for illegal entry. Formal charges were brought against him in a lower court on July 22, 2015.
Although he was acquitted in 2018, the Indian government appealed the verdict, forcing him to remain in the country.
After a lengthy legal process, Salahuddin was acquitted on appeal on February 28, 2023. The court allowed him to return to Bangladesh.
On May 8, he applied to the Assam state government for travel clearance, but it was not granted.
Following the fall of the Awami League government after the student-led uprising on August 5, 2024, he received a travel pass the next day and returned to Bangladesh on August 11.
However, questions have emerged about why Salahuddin waited so long to file the complaint after returning. In response, he told Dhaka Tribune that the delay was due to time spent collecting evidence and other pressing matters.
“It took some time to gather the necessary information. That’s why there was a delay in filing the complaint. I was also busy with other things,” he said.
He also called on other victims of enforced disappearance under the previous government to come forward and file complaints.
Meanwhile, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said that many victims and families of enforced disappearances are still filing complaints. As of last Tuesday, the Disappearance Commission has received around 1,850 such complaints.
“Even on Tuesday, new complaints were filed. Of them, around 1,350 complainants have already presented full testimonies to the commission,” he said.
Shafiqul also mentioned that according to the commission’s report, members of law enforcement were involved in disappearances to earn government rewards, medals, and desired postings.
He further added that a “Horror Museum” will be set up at the Ganabhaban (prime minister’s residence) to showcase these atrocities.
