Fourteen advocacy groups demand government guarantee against recurrence of enforced disappearances
A coalition of 14 international and domestic human rights organizations has issued a joint call to the Bangladeshi government, demanding truth, justice, and reparations for victims of enforced disappearance and their families. The appeal, coordinated to mark the International Week of the Disappeared, underscores the urgent need to dismantle the culture of impunity that has long shielded perpetrators of these abuses.
According to a statement published by Article 19, the signatories—including Human Rights Watch, Civicus, and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development—argue that enforced disappearances in Bangladesh have been systemic, fueled by political and institutional structures that effectively sanctioned such violations. The groups contend that security-focused narratives were used to normalize illegal acts, while the judiciary was frequently weaponized to legitimize suppression and insulate offenders from accountability. This environment fostered a climate of pervasive fear, discouraging survivors from speaking out about their experiences.
The coalition is urging the government to codify enforced disappearance as a specific criminal offense under national law, albeit without the inclusion of the death penalty. They emphasize that any legislative framework must focus on providing comprehensive reparations, including psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and full legal recognition for the victims. Such measures, they assert, should be developed in consultation with civil society and the families of the victims to ensure they effectively address the long-term trauma of those affected.
The recommendations extend to practical protections for the families of the disappeared, who often face bureaucratic hurdles regarding property rights, banking, and official documentation. The organizations have called for the immediate withdrawal of fabricated legal cases against victims and the release of individuals currently held in arbitrary detention. Furthermore, the coalition demands that all disappearances be investigated through transparent, impartial, and independent processes that bypass political and institutional interference.
To ensure future oversight, the groups are pushing for legal reforms that would grant the National Human Rights Commission greater independence and authority to conduct investigations. Additionally, they have called for proactive diplomatic engagement with India to track and locate any Bangladeshi citizens who may have been forcibly transferred or held across the border. By establishing these mechanisms, the coalition aims to establish a definitive guarantee of non-recurrence, ensuring that the practice of enforced disappearance is effectively ended in the country.
