What happens after Miraj picked up?

The family of Miraj Sheikh, a motorcycle rental driver from Joymoni in Mongla, Bagerhat, has demanded that he be found alive and produced before a court, alleging that Coast Guard personnel picked him up in April and that his whereabouts have remained unknown since then.

The Human Rights Support Society, Miraj’s family and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) made the demand at a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday, highlighting the alleged enforced disappearance and the family’s concerns over the subsequent legal proceedings.

According to the speakers, two plain-clothes Coast Guard members picked up Miraj from a tea shop at Joymoni Thota around 7:00pm on April 10 and took him to the Coast Guard station at Harbaria. Later, 7-8 uniformed members arrived by speedboat, took photographs and videos with him and left with him, they alleged.

The family claimed that Coast Guard personnel initially acknowledged that Miraj was in custody and assured them he would either be released or produced in a case after interrogation. A general diary was filed with Mongla Police Station on April 23.

After repeatedly approaching the Coast Guard and police, the family filed a writ petition. On July 12, the High Court directed the Coast Guard to trace Miraj within 15 working days and produce him before the court. However, his whereabouts remain unknown.