The chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, retired Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, has said that an investigation is underway into the current status of 330 individuals who went missing and have not returned.
During a press conference held at the commission’s office on Tuesday afternoon, he disclosed details regarding complaints and the progress of investigations.
According to him, the commission has received a total of 1,752 complaints of enforced disappearances, of which preliminary verification of approximately 1,000 cases has been completed.
Additionally, testimonies from 280 complainants have been recorded, along with statements from 45 officials from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Border areas and pushback information
As part of the investigation, the commission has requested information from the superintendents of police in Bangladesh's border districts and sector commanders of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) regarding individuals pushed back from India.
While police authorities have provided details on 140 individuals, none of them have been identified as victims of enforced disappearances so far.
Furthermore, Justice Chowdhury said that on December 22 last year, Mohammad Rahmat Ullah from Dhamrai, Dhaka, was pushed back from India through the Gomostapur border in Chapainawabganj.
The commission is continuing its inquiry into this matter.
List of Bangladeshis detained in India
Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the commission requested a list of Bangladeshis incarcerated in various Indian prisons.
In response, a list of 1,067 detained Bangladeshis, including their names and addresses, has been received for cases spanning the past two to two-and-a-half years.
However, verification is ongoing to determine whether any of the missing persons are included in this list.
Commitment to truth and accountability
The press conference was attended by other commission members, including retired Additional Judge Md Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activist Nur Khan, Brac University faculty member and commission member Ms. Nabila Idris, and human rights activist Sajjad Hossain.
The commission has reiterated its commitment to uncovering the truth behind enforced disappearances and ensuring accountability for those responsible.
