Commission to be formed to investigate, prosecute enforced disappearances

The interim government is considering forming a commission to investigate the incidents of enforced disappearances as many people were disappeared during the 15-year autocratic reign of the ousted Sheikh Hasina government.

"About 700 people were disappeared during the tenures of the Sheikh Hasina government and some 150 people are still missing," chief adviser's press secretary Shafiqul Alam told a press briefing at Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Wednesday (August 21).

The issue of disappearance was discussed at a meeting of the Advisory Council of the interim government, he said.

He said Bangladesh will sign the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) before August 30, the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

There is a commission on forced disappearances in Sri Lanka and such a commission will be formed in Bangladesh, he said.

The chief adviser's press secretary said the government will probe each and every case of the enforced disappearances.

Alam said a national security adviser will be appointed soon.