Commission on Enforced Disappearances submits 2nd interim report

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances on Wednesday submitted its second interim report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

The commission, led by its Chairperson Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, submitted the report to the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna at around 11am.

Commission members - human rights activists Nur Khan Liton and Sazzad Hossain and BRAC University teacher Nabila Idris were present. 

Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser M Siraj Uddin Miah were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Advisor Prof Yunus said arrangements should be made to publish the report in the form of a book and on website. 

This is not only an issue for Bangladesh but the world has interest in it, he said.

About the cruelty showed against the victims of enforced disparateness in secret cells, Prof Yunus said they were locked up in a three-foot by three-foot cells months after months and it should be presented to the people.

He instructed the commission members to identify what should be done immediately so that the government can start its work within a short time to this end.

The commission members said they have received 1,850 complaints so far and out of them, 1,350 complaints have been scrutinised.

They said the number of complaints could exceed 3,500, while more than 300 people are still missing among the victims of disappearances.

The commission chief requested the chief adviser to take initiatives so that the families of the missing people can at least make bank transactions.

He said under the existing law, if someone has been missing for seven years, s/he can be presumed dead.