---
title: "Dhaka Moves to Enforce Death Penalty for State-Linked Disappearances"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/dhaka-moves-to-enforce-death-penalty-for-state-linked-disappearances-n4zhy
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: World
published: 2026-08-04T17:32:34.000Z
modified: 2026-08-04T20:01:26.643Z
language: en-IN
---

# Dhaka Moves to Enforce Death Penalty for State-Linked Disappearances

Following a commission report identifying over 1,500 disappearances under former leader Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has drafted legislation for capital punishment. The bill aims to dismantle a culture of impunity by targeting officials involved in state-backed abductions.

## Key takeaways

- A new draft law proposes the death penalty for enforced disappearances resulting in the death of the victim.
- A government commission recorded 1,569 disappearances during Sheikh Hasina's 17-year rule, with 251 people still missing.
- The proposed legislation includes a provision to compensate victims' families using the seized assets of convicted perpetrators.
- Deposed leader Sheikh Hasina was convicted of crimes against humanity in 2025 and remains in exile in India.
- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government aims to pass the bill to end the culture of state-backed violence and impunity.

## Legislative Response to Decades of State Violence

Bangladesh has moved to codify the death penalty for state-linked abductions as part of a sweeping legislative overhaul following the 2024 uprising. The cabinet reached a consensus on the Prevention and Remedies for Enforced Disappearance Act on August 3, 2026. This proposed law stipulates that if an enforced disappearance leads to the victim's death, those responsible may face execution. Beyond physical punishment, the bill introduces a restitution mechanism where the property of convicted offenders will be used to provide financial compensation to the families of victims.

## The Scale of the Crisis Under the Former Regime

The urgency of the bill follows findings from an official inquiry commission that scrutinized the 17-year administration of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The commission documented 1,569 distinct cases of enforced disappearances. While many victims were eventually released or found, 251 individuals remain missing and are currently presumed dead. Investigations suggest the security forces primarily targeted members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami to silence political opposition.

## A Fractured Political Landscape

The current administration, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has positioned this bill as a fulfillment of campaign promises made during the February 2026 elections. Despite these legal maneuvers, international rights observers warn that deep-seated political rivalries and fragile law enforcement continue to threaten stability. Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Sheikh Hasina remains in India as a convicted fugitive. Having been sentenced to death in absentia in 2025 for crimes against humanity, she recently expressed her intent to return to Bangladesh despite the legal risks.

Source: The Hindu — World

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/dhaka-moves-to-enforce-death-penalty-for-state-linked-disappearances-n4zhy
Reported from: The Hindu — World