While the commission’s report sheds light on a dark chapter of Bangladesh-India relations, it also underscores the need for systemic reforms. Greater transparency and cooperation between the nations could pave the way for resolving these cases and preventing future violations.
The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has revealed disturbing findings of India’s involvement in cases of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh. In its comprehensive report titled Unfolding The Truth, the five-member commission, led by retired Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, detailed evidence of intelligence cooperation and captive exchanges between the two nations.
The report, handed over to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has taken much space and airtime in the Bangladesh media and has devoted considerable space to India bashing that is becoming increasingly common in Bangladesh.
“Indian involvement in Bangladesh’s system of enforced disappearances is a matter of public record,” the report stated. It highlighted instances of detainees being exchanged across borders and delved into the fates of individuals who vanished under suspicious circumstances.
Persistent Concerns of Detention in India
The commission’s findings pointed to a persistent belief within Bangladeshi law enforcement that some prisoners remain in Indian jails. “We recommend the ministries of foreign and home affairs extend their best efforts to identify any Bangladeshi citizens who may still remain incarcerated in India,” the report urged, adding that the commission’s jurisdiction did not extend beyond Bangladesh’s borders.
The report speaks of the case of Sukhranngan Bali, who, the report saysm was abducted from the premises of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court and later found in an Indian jail.
High-Profile Cases Highlight Patterns
BNP Leader Salahuddin Ahmed: Ahmed’s case is a second high profile case that sheds light on the alleged rendition system. Detained in Uttara, Dhaka, in 2015, he was held in a spartan cell with minimal facilities, the report noted. Ahmed identified the letters “TFI” on a blanket provided to him, signifying the “Task Force for Interrogation.” The only known TFI center at the time was operated by the RAB Intelligence Wing at their headquarters in Uttara.
The commission’s visit to the TFI center revealed its interior had been severely damaged, although they were able to confirm the layout of infamous torture chambers and cells through witness testimony. Soldiers who had visited the facility in the early 2010s described additional floors with cells that are no longer accessible. The commission suspects that Salahuddin Ahmed was held in one of these now-destroyed cells before being transported to the India-Bangladesh border and formally handed over to Indian officials.
Coordinated Captive Exchanges
The report detailed evidence of coordinated exchanges of detainees between Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Intelligence Wing and India’s Border Security Force (BSF). One soldier recounted witnessing two such exchanges around 2011 at the Tamabil border crossing. On one occasion, three captives were received from India. Two were subsequently executed near the road, while the third was handed over to another team within Bangladesh.
In return, RAB Intelligence handed over two Bangladeshi captives to Indian authorities. The soldier’s account underscores the level of cooperation between the two nations’ security services in these operations.
Testimonies of Coercion and Torture
Further testimony added chilling details to the report. Hummam Quader Chowdhury, another victim, described hearing Hindi-speaking individuals outside his cell discussing his interrogation. Their queries included details about the timing of his abduction and the nature of information extracted from him. Such accounts suggest the involvement of Indian personnel or agents in the captivity and interrogation of Bangladeshi detainees.
Destroyed Evidence and Implications
The destruction of facilities such as the TFI center’s interior highlights the challenge of gathering comprehensive evidence. However, the commission’s meticulous documentation of witness accounts and corroborative evidence provides a strong basis for its findings.
“The systemic and transnational nature of enforced disappearances involving both nations’ official security services is deeply troubling,” the commission concluded. It called for further analysis to understand the full extent of Indian authorities’ involvement and its implications for bilateral relations.
The report recommends intensified efforts by the Bangladeshi government to identify citizens who might still be imprisoned in India. It also emphasized the need for diplomatic channels to address these issues transparently.
For families of the disappeared, the findings offer a grim glimpse into the fates of their loved ones but also renew hope for accountability. Human rights advocates have called for international oversight to ensure justice and prevent such practices in the future.
While the commission’s report sheds light on a dark chapter of Bangladesh-India relations, it also underscores the need for systemic reforms. Greater transparency and cooperation between the nations could pave the way for resolving these cases and preventing future violations. For now, the report serves as a crucial step in documenting the truth and advocating for justice for the victims of enforced disappearances.
