Human Rights Watch says hundreds being held in unknown locations since 2013

Bangladesh security agencies have secretly detained scores of opposition activists many of whom have later been killed, an international rights group said on Thursday.

Amid heightened political tensions, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report was released only days after a high-profile government critic briefly disappeared. HRW said Bangladeshi authorities have detained hundreds of people in secret locations since 2013, including at least 90 last year.

The New York-based group said it has documented 21 cases of detainees who were later killed, and nine others whose whereabouts are unknown. “Bangladesh security forces appear to have a free hand in detaining people, deciding on their guilt or innocence, and determining their punishment, including whether they have the right to be alive,” Brad Adams, HRW’s Asia director said.

“The disappearances are well-documented and reported, yet the government persists in this abhorrent practice with no regard for the rule of law,” he added.

Among those missing is Sajedul Islam Suman, 37, a Dhaka neighbourhood chief of the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Sumon’s sister Sanjida Islam said Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers detained her brother and five other BNP activists on December 4, 2013. The RAB and police have denied the accusation.

Rising tensions

Political tensions are growing again as a national election is widely expected next year. And mothers of 22 of the missing activists have set up a group, Mayer’s Daak (Mother’s Call), to seek the government’s answers.

According to the HRW, in the first five months of 2017, 48 disappearances were reported.