The Bangladesh government should take urgent steps to confirm the whereabouts and release of men “held by its security authorities outside the authority of the courts,” Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that was made public today.

Enforced disappearances have emerged as a key and pressing concern in Bangladesh, particularly since the period leading up to the January 2014 national elections, Human Rights Watch said in a press release.

The press release claimed that over 80 cases of secret detentions and enforced disappearances were reported in 2017, with seven of them killed later in so-called “gunfights,” or “crossfire”: euphemisms for extrajudicial killings. At least 17 are still missing, the press release adds.

“Secret detentions and disappearances have become a terrifying prospect for Bangladeshis, who fear that any criticism or political affiliation can lead to a knock on the door from the ‘administration’,” Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, was quoted as saying according to the press release.

“As she nears the end of her third term in office, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should intervene personally to help families who are desperately looking for answers, and establish an independent authority to investigate and resolve this widespread problem.”

 “The government has promised repeatedly to investigate all allegations of human rights violations thoroughly and impartially. The issue was raised at the last United Nation Universal Periodic Review of the country’s human rights situation, in April 2013. But reports of new cases continue,” the press release read.

Bangladesh should ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, Human Rights Watch said. 

“In addition to the establishment of an independent authority, the Bangladesh government should invite relevant UN special mandate holders to conduct their own investigations,” Adams said.

“These teams should all be given free and unfettered access to all detention sites and access to all victims and their families.”