Forced disappearances

Many of these political prisoners, primarily arrested in the 1990s and early 2000s, remain behind bars without any hope of release, despite Bhutan’s claims that no such prisoners exist.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Justice for All expressed alarm over the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly as the nation undergoes significant political transition.

The number killed in violence last year was the highest since the military coup in 2021. Over 1,800 civilians were killed in 2024, many in indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery shelling, with attacks on schools, places of worship and healthcare facilities having become routine.

The mass mobilisation saw participation from people across different backgrounds, including women and children. Faced with this growing opposition, the former government resorted to increasingly violent means to maintain power. The UN report describes a deliberate strategy orchestrated at the highest levels of the former administration.

Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison last month on fresh corruption charges, a verdict he dismissed as politically motivated. His wife was also convicted and handed a seven-year sentence.

The actions taken by the interim government in the coming months will determine whether the sacrifices of the Monsoon Revolution pave the way for a brighter future or become a fleeting moment in the nation’s turbulent history.

The report detailed evidence of coordinated exchanges of detainees between Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion Intelligence Wing and India’s Border Security Force.

The commission’s chairman, retired Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, and his team have compiled over 1,676 complaints of enforced disappearances, with 758 already scrutinized. The commission estimates the total number could exceed 3,500.