Bangladesh Probe reveals Children were Kept in Secret Jails

A report by Bangladesh’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has exposed harrowing accounts of children being held in secret jails.

The report claimed it happened during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The investigation revealed that several children were detained alongside their mothers in secret facilities.

These black-site jails reportedly subjected detainees to severe psychological and physical abuse.

This included withholding milk from babies to coerce parents during interrogations.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August 2024 after being ousted in a student-led revolution.

Her government is accused of extensive human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings of political opponents and the enforced disappearances of hundreds.

Dhaka has since issued arrest warrants for her, charging her with crimes against humanity.

The report detailed multiple verified cases of women and children disappearing into detention facilities.

It included an instance where a pregnant woman and her two children were beaten in custody.

The report stated: “This was not an isolated case.”

In another case, a couple and their infant were detained, with the child deliberately deprived of their mother’s milk.

This was done to pressure the father into cooperation. Such incidents underscore the depth of psychological tactics that were employed.

One witness recounted being held as a child in a detention site operated by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

RAB is a paramilitary force notorious for its alleged human rights violations.

The witness revealed that while she survived, her mother never returned, highlighting the devastating impact of these disappearances on families.

Hasina’s administration consistently denied allegations of enforced disappearances during its rule.

The administration claimed that some reported missing had perished in the Mediterranean while attempting to migrate to Europe.

However, the commission’s findings contradict these claims, reporting that approximately 200 individuals abducted by security forces remain missing.

The commission has called for accountability, with member Sazzad Hossain emphasising the importance of holding commanding officers responsible.

He raised this demand, highlighting that the victims cannot identify individual perpetrators.

Hossain said: “In such cases, we will recommend holding the commander accountable.”

He also pointed out the lasting impacts on families, ranging from psychological trauma to financial and legal challenges.

As Bangladesh grapples with the revelations, international and domestic pressure mounts to address these atrocities.

The commission’s investigation, which includes testimonies, site visits, and evidence gathering, aims to shed light on the extent of abuse.