The government has formed a five-member commission to search for individuals who disappeared at the hands of law enforcement agencies during the 15-year rule of the Awami League.
A notification was issued by the Cabinet Division forming this commission under the powers given by the ‘Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956’ on Tuesday.
The notification mentions that this investigation commission has been formed to search for persons forcibly disappeared through members of any law enforcement agency, such as the Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch (SB), Detective Branch (DB), Ansar Battalion, National Security Intelligence (NSI), defense forces, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Coast Guard, or any other law enforcement and enforcement agencies of the country.
According to the ‘Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956’, the commission will complete its investigation and submit its report to the government within 45 working days.
The president of this commission is retired Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury of the High Court Division. The members of the commission are retired Justice Md. Farid Ahmed Shibli of the High Court Division, human rights activist Noor Khan, BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris, and human rights activist Sazzad Hossain.
The commission will investigate cases of enforced disappearances through law enforcement agencies from January 1, 2010, to August 5 of the current year, identify the disappeared persons, and determine under what circumstances they were disappeared.
The notification mentions that the commission will submit details of the enforced disappearance incidents to the relevant authorities and make recommendations on the matter. If the disappeared persons are found, the commission will inform their relatives.
At the same time, the commission will collect information on investigations conducted by other organizations or institutions regarding incidents of enforced disappearances.
The notification mentions that the Cabinet Division will provide secretarial assistance to the commission and bear the necessary expenses. The commission will also have the authority to assign any public servant of the Republic to assist them.
The notification also mentions that the president of the commission will enjoy the status and privileges of a judge of the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, and the members of the commission will enjoy the status and privileges of a judge of the High Court Division.
On August 5, the day of the ‘March to Dhaka’ program called by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her post and went to India. On that day, the cabinet was dissolved. The next day, August 6, the President dissolved the 12th National Parliament. Subsequently, an interim government was formed on August 8.
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