Hold architects of 'Ayanaghar' to account

Relatives of the missing persons have persistently sought to find their loved ones, demanding justice for the victims of enforced disappearances. This demand is in place for a long time. Last Friday, on the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of Enforced Disappearances, they took to the streets to voice their concerns once again.

Some missing persons have been found following political changes. Several individuals were rescued from a prison run by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), known as 'Ayanaghar'. Others, who had been missing for extended periods, have also been released. This has intensified the demand for locating all missing persons. Enforced disappearances are a heinous crime against humanity. Not only are the human rights of the disappeared violated, but their relatives also suffer prolonged human rights abuses, enduring emotional distress and facing socio-economic crises.

The government has changed and Bangladesh has ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. We commend this move. A five-member commission of inquiry has been formed to trace missing persons. The commission will investigate cases from 1 January 2010 to 5 August of this year, identifying those who disappeared and determining the circumstances of their disappearance.

However, the question arises: is merely locating missing persons enough? We believe that those responsible for these disappearances must also be identified. It is essential to uncover who orchestrated the disappearances, where the decision to kidnap these individuals originated, and hold every person involved accountable. This is critical to preventing future crimes against humanity, such as enforced disappearances.

As long as the Commission of Inquiry exists to search for missing persons, its scope and authority must be expanded. The commission should not only trace the missing but also identify those responsible for their disappearances. If necessary, the commission should be empowered to ensure the accountability of the perpetrators. We must also ascertain how many clandestine detention centres exist in the country and take immediate steps to dismantle these facilities. Above all, it is imperative to ensure that no further incidents of enforced disappearances occur in Bangladesh.

Ashikujaman Syed, Research Assistant

Bioinformatics Research Lab

Center for Research Innovation and Development (CRID)

[email protected]