Forced disappearance in Bangladesh

Forced Disappearances in Bangladesh first occurred under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's regime between 1972 to 1975. Many members of Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal, army officers and other opposition party members were picked up by Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini, an elite para-military force formed by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The second phase of forced disappearance started in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League party took power in 2009. Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Since then, during her regime, around 300 people have been forcefully disappeared by the state security forces.

According to the report of a domestic human rights organization, 82 people were forcefully disappeared from January to September in 2014. The activists and leaders of opposition parties constitute the majority of the victims. After the disappearances, at least 39 of the victims were found dead while others remained missing. Before the controversial national election of 2014, at least 20 opposition men were picked up by the security forces. At least 89 people have been victims of enforced disappearances in 2016.

After the Awami League party assumed power in the country through election in 2009, law and order situation began to deteriorate with opposition men being attacked by the ruling party men that left several opposition men killed and many others injured. Armed conflicts and violence erupted in the university campuses throughout the country. Political activities of the opposition parties were often attacked. From 2010, picking up of opposition leaders and activists by the state security forces began to surge in the country.

Throughout most of 2013, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its alliance observed nationwide general strikes and blockades in demand of a non-partisan interim government or a caretaker government to hold the next general election of 2014. The E.U., the U.S. and the Commonwealth announced that they would not send observers since they were concerned about the credibility of the election. Before the controversial national election of 2014, 20 opposition men were picked up by security forces. As of 2016, they remained missing.

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