A government-appointed commission investigating enforced disappearances during the tenure of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced on January 5, 2026, that at least 287 individuals are presumed to have been killed after being abducted by state security forces. The commission, established following Hasina's removal from power in a mass uprising in August 2024, has so far examined 1,569 reported cases of abductions. Many of the missing persons are believed to have been victims of extrajudicial killings, with some bodies reportedly dumped in rivers—including the Buriganga in the capital, Dhaka—or concealed in mass graves to obscure evidence of state involvement.
The findings represent a significant escalation in the documentation of alleged atrocities committed under Hasina's administration, which ruled Bangladesh from 2009 until her forced resignation amid widespread protests over corruption, economic inequality, and political repression. The commission's report highlights a pattern of enforced disappearances targeting opposition activists, students, journalists, and ordinary citizens perceived as threats to the ruling Awami League government. These abductions were frequently carried out by elite units such as the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which has faced international criticism and sanctions from Western countries for human rights violations.
The revelations come months after Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in November 2025 by a Bangladeshi court for crimes against humanity related to the violent suppression of protests that ultimately led to her ouster. Now living in exile in India, Hasina has denied the charges and accused the interim government of political vendetta. The commission's work is part of a broader transitional justice effort under the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which has pledged accountability for past abuses while aiming to restore democratic institutions and hold free elections.
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The announcement has intensified public demand for justice and further investigations into the full scope of state-sponsored violence during Hasina's 15-year rule. Human rights organizations have welcomed the commission's progress but called for independent international oversight to ensure impartiality and prevent retaliation against witnesses. As the body continues its inquiries, the disclosed figures underscore the deep scars left by years of authoritarian governance and the immense challenge facing Bangladesh's new leadership in delivering reconciliation and reform.
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