The police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB),
Detective Branch (DB) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) were involved in most of the disappearances in the country, according to the second interim report of the Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances.
The report notes that victims of disappearances, witnesses, and family members of the victims have blamed law enforcement agencies for most of these incidents.
In addition, allegations have been made against various units of the police and intelligence agencies for direct involvement in the disappearances. Members of the army's intelligence agency DGFI, the National Security Intelligence Agency NSI, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have also been accused of involvement in the disappearances.
The report further states that the DGFI
and NSI are primarily responsible for conducting intelligence activities. They do not have the legal authority to arrest or detain anyone. However, the manner in which members of these agencies have detained, abducted and interrogated is tantamount to violating constitutional limits. This indicates the development of parallel illegal forces in the country's legal system.
According to the investigation commission, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies have in many cases conducted operations without complying with their mandate or responsibilities and standard operating procedures (SOPs). This is also mentioned as very worrying in the report.
The second interim report, titled
'Unfolding the Truth: A Structural Diagnosis of Enforced Disappearance in Bangladesh', was submitted to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday.
The report analyzes the role of each force directly and indirectly involved in the disappearances.
