Unfolding the Truth, Bangladesh Inquiry Commission Exposes State-Run Disappearances Under Sheikh Hasina’s Rule
Bangladesh’s post-Hasina Inquiry Commission reveals a chilling state-run machinery of abductions and torture, exposing how security forces used fear and secrecy to silence dissent.
২০২৪-এর জুলাই গণঅভ্যুত্থানে শেখ হাসিনার পতনের পর গঠিত অনুসন্ধান কমিশন উন্মোচন করেছে ভয়ংকর সত্য-- ১৫ বছর ধরে বাংলাদেশে রাষ্ট্রীয়ভাবে পরিচালিত গুম, নির্যাতন ও হত্যার এক অন্ধকার নেটওয়ার্ক। প্রতিবেদনগুলোতে উঠে এসেছে, কীভাবে নিরাপত্তা সংস্থাগুলো ভিন্নমত দমনে ভয় ও গোপনীয়তার এক নিষ্ঠুর শাসন ব্যবস্থা গড়ে তুলেছিল।
During Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, Bangladesh became a hotbed for enforced disappearances, with thousands of people falling victim to this horrific practice. Following Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power in August 2024 through a mass uprising, Bangladesh’s Interim Government launched an investigation by forming the Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances.
The Commission released its first interim report titled “Unfolding the truth” in December 2024 and its second interim report titled “Unfolding the truth: A structural diagnosis of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh” in June 2025. These reports detail the systematic nature of the disappearances, revealing how thousands of individuals were secretly abducted, tortured, and in many cases, killed over the past fifteen years.
The Commission has received a total of 1837 complaints related to enforced disappearances. Following a first round of review, 1772 of these complaints were entered into the Commission’s database as active cases. Among these active cases, 1427 victims have surfaced alive, and 345 individuals remain missing till date.
This article explores the key findings of the Commission’s reports and sheds light on one of the darkest chapters in Bangladesh’s history.
A System Built on Fear and Control
According to the reports, enforced disappearances became a weapon of fear in Bangladesh. It was systematically designed over 15 years to remain undetectable. The system was planned and carried out by several security agencies working together in secret. These included the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Detective Branch (DB), the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC), the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and the National Security Intelligence (NSI).
These forces worked as a network. Officers wore plain clothes, used fake names, and travelled in unmarked vehicles. One group abducted the person, another group held them in a secret detention center, and another decided whether the victim would be released, charged in a false case, or killed. The reports said that the command structure was deliberately confusing so that no single person could be blamed.
How Victims Were Chosen
The reports describe two main ways that victims were selected. The first was the “chain system.” In this method, detainees were tortured until they gave names of other people. Those new names became the next targets. This created a continuous cycle of fear that spread across political and social groups.
The second method was direct political orders. In many cases, powerful political figures instructed security forces to act against opponents, activists, or critics. The reports recall the Narayanganj Seven-Murder Case, where a senior RAB officer admitted that his team acted on orders from higher authorities. Moreover, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, a survivor of the enforced disappearance, recounted being told at the point of his release: “The Honorable Prime Minister is giving you a second chance, but there are certain conditions. You must refrain from politics, leave the country, and return only when the situation improves. Understand that the Honorable Prime Minister is granting you a second chance in life.”
Tracking and Surveillance
Before abductions took place, victims were often watched and followed. Their phone calls were tracked by the National Monitoring Centre (NMC) under the DGFI, and later by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC). Victims told investigators that they noticed strange activity on their phones before they were taken. One victim revealed that his captors referenced a private phone conversation about his wife’s dental treatment, suggesting that mobile surveillance had been conducted beforehand. According to the reports, this proves that several intelligence agencies worked together to find and capture targets.
Abductions in the Night
Most abductions happened after dark. Men in plain clothes, sometimes claiming to be law enforcement, or DB or RAB, arrived in unmarked vehicles. The operations were quick and carefully planned. Victims were blindfolded, handcuffed, and beaten before being pushed into the vehicles. They were driven away to secret locations. Witnesses were too afraid to stop the men, and in many cases, families were warned not to speak about what had happened.
Aynaghor or Secret Detention Centers
Once abducted, people were taken to secret detention centers called “Aynaghor”. Many of these were hidden inside official government or military buildings in Dhaka and Chittagong.
The Commission found at least eight secret detention sites, operated by agencies such as the DGFI, RAB, and CTTC, some of which were later repainted or destroyed to hide evidence. Inside, cells were small, dark, and dirty. Victims were kept for days, months, or even years without contact with their families or lawyers.
Torture as Part of the System
The reports said torture was not random or done by a few individuals. It was an organized part of the system. The same methods were used across different agencies, showing that officers had been trained to do it. Many detention rooms were soundproof and had torture tools such as electric shock devices, ropes, and modified chairs. One of the victims, who was abducted by RAB from Dhanmondhi in 2010, reported that he was taken to a room where his lips were immediately sewn without the use of any anaesthesiatic. In addition, loud music was played to hide the screams of victims. Even after the fall of the government, investigators found physical evidence such as wires, pulleys, and blood stains, matching the stories told by the survivors.
Methods of Torture
According to the reports, victims described many different forms of torture. These are described below.
Constant Discomfort: Detainees were blindfolded, handcuffed, and forced to sit or stand in painful positions for hours. They were given very little food and water, denied sleep, and sometimes made to relieve themselves in public. Women were not allowed to wear their veils, and both men and women were humiliated to lose their dignity.
Beatings: Almost every survivor said they were beaten repeatedly with sticks, iron rods, or rifle butts. Some were beaten for hours until they lost consciousness. These beatings caused broken bones, nerve damage, and lasting pain.
Electric Shocks: Electric shock devices were used on victims’ ears, chests, and genitals. Many lost consciousness or control of their bodies. Some later suffered from burns, memory loss, and hearing problems.
Waterboarding: Victims were tied down, blindfolded, and had water poured over a cloth covering their faces, making them feel like they were drowning. This caused lasting fear and breathing problems.
Rotating Devices: Investigators found evidence of rotating torture machines. One was a chair that spun the victim rapidly until they vomited or fainted. Another was a large metal frame that turned the entire body. These devices caused internal bleeding and muscle damage.
Sexualized Torture: Both men and women were sexually abused during detention. They were stripped, beaten, or shocked on their genitals. Pregnant women were also tortured. Many survivors now live with permanent injuries, infertility, and trauma. Others never spoke publicly out of shame or fear.
Killings and Disposal of Bodies
Many victims were killed after torture. Their bodies were thrown into rivers such as the Buriganga, tied with cement bags so they would sink. Others were placed on railway tracks or roads to look like accident victims.
False Arrests and Fake Cases
Some detainees were later shown as “arrested” in police records, even though they had already been in secret detention for months. They were charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act or the Arms Act to make the abductions look legal.
Many survivors said they were forced to sign false confessions. After being released, they were watched, threatened, and sometimes taken again. The media often repeated the government’s version of events without checking the truth because journalists were pressured or paid to stay silent.
Rendition to India
The Commission also found cases of cross-border handovers to India. Bangladeshi citizens such as Shukhranjan Bali and BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed were abducted in Bangladesh and later found in India.
The reports said that there was coordination between RAB and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in these renditions. Some victims who were handed over were never seen again.
Suffering of Victims and Families
The disappearances left deep wounds on society. Survivors came back with injuries and trauma. They found no justice, as police often refused to take complaints and courts did not move cases forward.
Families of missing persons suffered for years. Many lost their main source of income and lived in poverty. Wives could not remarry or inherit property because they had no death certificates. Children grew up in fear and faced social stigma. Some families were watched and harassed by security forces even after their relatives were gone.
Impact on Security Forces
The reports said this system of impunity also damaged the country’s own security forces. Many officers became used to illegal actions and stopped questioning orders. Some said they felt guilty but were too afraid to disobey.
After the fall of the previous government in August 2024, a few officers tried to hide evidence by repainting walls, removing tools, and deleting records from DGFI headquarters. But investigators still found signs of what had happened.
The Inquiry Commission concludes that enforced disappearances in Bangladesh were a state-organized crime involving multiple security and intelligence agencies. It calls for full accountability for those who ordered and carried out the crimes. It recommends complete reform of the police and intelligence agencies, strict court oversight, and legal protection for officers who tell the truth. The Commission also urges the government to provide justice, financial compensation, and long-term support for victims and their families.
About the Author
Mohammed Raihan is a staff contributor to the Insighta. He writes on history, culture, language, economy and geopolitics, uncovering untold narratives that connect the past and present. He can be reached at mohammed_raihan@theinsighta.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Insighta’s editorial stance. However, any errors in the stated facts or figures may be corrected if supported by verifiable evidence. | A guest post by
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