Bangladesh disputes study into alleged forced disappearances
Bangladesh on Wednesday disputed a Human Rights Watch investigation into disappearances of government critics and others as built on questionable, uncorroborated allegations that security forces were involved. The government has long denied allegations of forced disappearances, and its latest denial followed a report the rights group released on Monday that identified 86 people who remain missing after allegedly being targeted by security forces.
The group is urging the UN to independently investigate
The group is urging the United Nations to independently investigate. "The study is built on questionable sources of information that in many instances should not be believed," said Ferdousi Shahriar, the deputy chief of mission at Bangladesh's embassy in Washington.
The report was based on interviews with unidentified individuals: Shahriar
She said that the report was based on interviews with unidentified individuals, including 60 interviews with unnamed people, 81 citations from unnamed individuals, as well as seven anonymous witnesses. She also added in the statement that the study conflates what could be kidnappings with the government-sponsored disappearances. Shahriar said that Bangladesh investigates every reported disappearance.
Human Rights Watch blames it on Rapid Action Battalion
Shahriar also said that Bangladesh cannot, logistically or legally, give credence to anonymous sources that suggest law enforcement officials are abducting individuals in broad daylight when there is zero evidence - in arrest records or records of those detained - that corroborate those events. Human Rights Watch mainly blames the disappearances on the Rapid Action Battalion, an elite anti-crime force.
Authorities have continually refused to investigate enforced disappearances: Group
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government credits the Rapid Action Battalion with crushing Islamic militancy. Calls to a spokesperson for the Rapid Action Battalion were not returned. Based on over 115 interviews between July 2020 and March 2021 with alleged victims, family members and witnesses, Human Rights Watch said Bangladeshi authorities have continually refused to look into enforced disappearances or to hold those responsible accountable.
Nearly 600 people have been forcibly disappeared: Human Rights Watch
Referring to data collected by Bangladeshi rights groups, Human Rights Watch said nearly 600 people have been forcibly disappeared by security forces since Hasina took office in 2009. "While some victims have been released, others were killed in what authorities labeled shootouts with police," it said. It found 86 were still missing. "Some victims were critics of the ruling Awami League government," it said.
