The final report of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has found that the majority of such incidents were politically motivated.
The commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser (CA) Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday. The handover ceremony was held at the state guesthouse Jamuna in the presence of Commission Chairperson Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and members Justice Md Farid Ahmed Shibli, Nur Khan Liton, Nabila Idris and Sajjad Hossain.
Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Chief Secretary to the CA Sirajuddin Mia were also present.
According to the findings, thousands of citizens were abducted, with many victims linked to major political parties. Some cases were directly connected to high-ranking officials.
The commission said a total of 1,913 complaints related to enforced disappearances were filed. After verification, 1,569 cases were identified as enforced disappearances under legal definitions, while 287 were classified as "missing and deceased."
Commission member Nabila Idris said complaints are still coming in and the actual number of enforced disappearances could range between 4,000 and 6,000.
She explained that many victims or their families did not approach the commission, were unaware of its work, had moved abroad, or were unwilling to provide information on record despite being contacted.
Firmly asserting the political nature of the crimes, commission members said, "The data we have clearly shows that these were politically motivated acts."
The report detailed the political affiliations of the victims. Among those who returned alive, 75 per cent were leaders or activists of Jamaat-Shibir, while 22 per cent were affiliated with BNP and its allied organisations. Among those still missing, 68 per cent were linked to BNP and 22 per cent to Jamaat-Shibir.
The report said evidence suggests that several high-profile disappearances involved the direct participation of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
Those affected include BNP leaders Ilyas Ali, Hummam Qader Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed and Chowdhury Alam; Jamaat leader Brigadier General (retd) Abdullahil Amani Azmi; Barrister Mir Ahmad bin Qasem; and former diplomat Maruf Zaman.
Commission members said evidence indicates that the former prime minister personally issued instructions in multiple cases of enforced disappearance. They also cited evidence of victims being rendered extrajudicially to India, suggesting the actions were carried out on directives from the highest levels of government.
Chief Adviser Professor Yunus praised the commission for its dedication and resolve. "This is historic work. The commission has documented atrocities that can only be described as monstrous. Engaging directly with survivors allowed the commission to see the brutal reality of these crimes," he said.
He said the report documents how state institutions were manipulated to commit inhumane acts while maintaining a façade of democracy.
The Chief Adviser called for the findings to be communicated to the public in simple language and instructed the commission to submit recommendations and guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future. He also ordered the mapping of sites where extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances took place.
According to the investigation, the highest number of killings and disappearances occurred along the Baleshwar River in Barishal, with additional cases recorded in the Buriganga River and Munshiganj.
Commission members thanked the chief adviser for his unwavering support, saying his firm stance made it possible to complete the difficult investigation.
The National Human Rights Commission has urged the chief adviser to continue the process by restructuring and strengthening the commission and called on the government to ensure the protection of victims.
