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Extrajudicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh

ONGOING2009Bangladesh3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Bangladesh describe a documented pattern of abductions and killings carried out by state law enforcement agencies without due legal process, spanning multiple governments since the country's independence in 1971. According to compiled data, from 2009 to 2023 at least 2,699 people were victims of extrajudicial killings, 677 people were forcibly disappeared, and 1,048 people died in custody in Bangladesh. From 2004 to 2006, at least 991 people were reportedly killed extrajudicially by the Rapid Action Battalion. The Detective Branch (DB) of police has also been implicated alongside RAB.

The practice reportedly began under the administration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman between 1972 and 1975, when members of the Jatiya Samajtantnik Dal, army officers and opposition figures were allegedly picked up by the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini, a paramilitary force. The pattern is described as continuing through the era of General Ershad and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government, and intensifying after the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, took power in 2009, including reportedly targeting opposition figures around the disputed 2014 election and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notable named cases include M. Ilias Ali, a former Member of Parliament and BNP leader who went missing in April 2012; Aminul Islam, a labor organizer found dead near Dhaka in April 2012 with marks of torture; and three sons of opposition leaders — Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, and Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem — who were picked up in August 2016. Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem and Amaan Azmi were reportedly released from a facility called Aynaghor in August 2024 following the fall of the Hasina government. Sukharanjan Bali, a prosecution witness, was allegedly abducted in November 2012 and later located in an Indian prison. Numerous other named individuals are documented as disappeared, tortured, or killed across the years 2008–2020, attributed variously to RAB, DB, and police units.

Human rights organizations including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International have repeatedly raised concerns; a July 2017 Human Rights Watch report of 82 pages accused the government of secret detention, enforced disappearance, and extrajudicial killing of opposition figures. In 2021 the United States imposed sanctions on RAB and seven officials, after which the reported number of incidents began decreasing. Bangladeshi officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, RAB's media wing, the Law Minister, and Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed, have denied government involvement or characterized allegations as opposition propaganda.

Following the fall of the Awami League government in a mass uprising on 5 August 2024, an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus formed a five-member inquiry commission on 27 August 2024 to investigate the conduct of police, RAB, Border Guard Bangladesh, CID, Special Branch, National Security Intelligence, and the military's Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. On 29 August 2024, the interim government signed the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Key facts

Victims
Hummam Quader Chowdhury, Sukharanjan Bali, Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, M Ilias Ali, Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, Aminul Islam
Date
2009
Location
Bangladesh
Case status
ongoing

Case timeline

  1. 1972

    Reported enforced disappearances and killings begin under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's administration, allegedly involving the Jatiya Rakkhi Bahini paramilitary force.

  2. 2004

    Beginning of a period (through 2006) in which at least 991 people were reportedly killed extrajudicially by the Rapid Action Battalion.

  3. 2009

    Awami League assumes power in Bangladesh; reported deterioration in law and order and increase in attacks on opposition figures.

  4. 2012-04

    M. Ilias Ali, former MP and BNP leader, goes missing in Dhaka; Aminul Islam, a trade unionist, found dead near Dhaka bearing torture marks after being disappeared.

  5. 2012-11

    Sukharanjan Bali, a prosecution witness, allegedly abducted from outside the Supreme Court; later located in a prison in Kolkata.

  6. 2014-04

    Bodies of seven men discovered in the Shitalakkhya river near Narayanganj, allegedly victims of contract killing by RAB personnel.

  7. 2016-01-16

    26 people, including ex-Awami League members and ex-RAB officials, sentenced to death in connection with the Narayanganj seven murders case.

  8. 2016-08

    Sons of three opposition leaders — Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, and Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem — picked up by security forces.

  9. 2017-03

    Hummam Quader Chowdhury returns home after his 2016 disappearance.

  10. 2017-07

    Human Rights Watch publishes an 82-page report accusing the Bangladesh government of secret detention, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings of political opposition members.

  11. 2021

    United States imposes sanctions on RAB and seven of its officials; reported incidents begin decreasing thereafter.

  12. 2022-08-14

    Netra News publishes a whistleblower report alleging officials held and tortured enforced-disappearance victims at a secret facility called Aynaghar.

  13. 2024-08-05

    Awami League government falls amid a mass uprising.

  14. 2024-08-06

    Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem released, reportedly from Aynaghor, the day after Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure from Bangladesh.

  15. 2024-08-27

    Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus forms a five-member inquiry commission to investigate extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

  16. 2024-08-29

    Interim government signs the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

Best coverage

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People

  • Hummam Quader Chowdhury

    VICTIM

    Son of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, picked up by security forces in August 2016; returned home in March 2017.

  • Sukharanjan Bali

    VICTIM

    Prosecution witness allegedly abducted by plainclothes police on 5 November 2012 from outside the Supreme Court; later found in a prison in Kolkata, India.

  • Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem

    VICTIM

    Son of Mir Quasem Ali and member of his legal defence team; forcibly disappeared from his home in Mirpur, Dhaka on 9 August 2016 and released 6 August 2024.

  • M Ilias Ali

    VICTIM

    Former Member of Parliament and BNP leader who went missing on 17 April 2012 after last being seen in Dhaka; remains unresolved.

  • Tareque Sayeed

    CONVICTED

    Sacked RAB-11 lieutenant colonel and convicted murderer in the Narayanganj Seven Murder case, also accused as the lead suspect in a separate 2013 abduction case.

  • Abdullahil Amaan Azmi

    VICTIM

    Former Bangladesh Army brigadier-general, son of Ghulam Azam, forcibly picked up from his residence in August 2016; released in August 2024.

  • Aminul Islam

    VICTIM

    Trade unionist found dead near Dhaka in April 2012 bearing torture marks after being forcibly disappeared.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Bangladesh

23.6850, 90.3563

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
From 2009 to 2023, at least 2,699 people were reportedly killed extrajudicially in Bangladesh, with 677 forcibly disappeared and 1,048 dying in custody, in documented cases attributed to state security forces including the Rapid Action Battalion and police Detective Branch.
Where did the killings happen?
Bangladesh.
Who was convicted?
Tareque Sayeed (Sacked RAB-11 lieutenant colonel and convicted murderer in the Narayanganj Seven Murder case, also accused as the lead suspect in a separate 2013 abduction case.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: ongoing.
More cases in Bangladesh

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICExtrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in BangladeshWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — BBC NewsBBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The New York TimesThe New York Times · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026