Two brothers forcibly disappeared; no trace in 10 years
80-year-old farmer, Ainal Haque, of Pardilalpur village in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, Only for involving BNP’s politics
Enforced disappearances of two brothers, no trace even after 10 years
An 80 years old farmer Ainal Haque of Pardilalpur village in Shibgonj upazila of Chapainwabgonj district is a father of four sons all of those were involved in BNP’s politics. The old aged farmer has spent the past 10 years waiting for the return of his two sons, who allegedly disappeared after being taken away by law enforcement agencies in 2016.
Family sources said, Ainal Haque’s youngest son Setaur Rahman was Senior Joint-Convener of the district unit Jatiayabadi Chhatra Dal.
Police reportedly raided the family home on the night of August 17, 2016, looking for Setaur. Failing to find him, police allegedly took away his elder brother, Mizanur Rahman, then member-secretary of Shahbazpur Union Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal.
According to the family, police demanded Tk 2 million (20 lakh) for Mizanur’s release. Relatives managed to arrange Tk 9 lakh through loans and handed the money to Mozammel Hossain, then a sub-inspector at Shibganj Police Station, through another brother, Rezaul Rahman, a Chhatra Dal activist at Rajshahi University.
Mozammel allegedly told Rezaul that Mizanur would be released seven days later near the overbridge at Saheb Bazar intersection in Rajshahi. But the deadline passed without Mizanur being released. Instead, Mozammel allegedly demanded another Tk 11 lakh.
The dispute over the additional money reportedly led to a heated argument between Mozammel and Rezaul. Four months later, on December 27, 2016, Rezaul was allegedly picked up from a mess in Rajshahi city by law enforcement personnel.
Since then, neither brother has been officially shown as arrested, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
‘Was the family targeted because of BNP politics?’
Senior BNP leaders in Chapainawabganj said the family faced state persecution because of its involvement in BNP politics.
According to information gathered during the investigation, all four of Ainal Haque’s sons held active positions in the party. Setaour was a former senior joint convener of the district Chhatra Dal, Mizanur was member-secretary of Shahbazpur Union Jubo Dal, and Rezaul was an active activist of Rajshahi University Chhatra Dal. Their other brother, Ariful Islam, is general secretary of Shahbazpur Union BNP.
Three of Haque’s sons-in-law are also involved in BNP politics.
During the 15-year Awami League rule, the family faced repeated cases, attacks and police harassment, relatives said. They had to appear in court for years in at least 17 political cases, while several family members were imprisoned. Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, the family was acquitted in 16 political cases over the subsequent two years.
12 police officials among accused
A case filed before the International Crimes Tribunal by Ainal Haque names at least 12 former police officials, along with local Awami League activists, in connection with the alleged enforced disappearance and killing of his sons.
The accused include then Shibganj police sub-inspectors Gazi Mozammel Hossain and Shah Alam, then officer-in-charge Ramzan Ali, then additional superintendent of police Mahbub Alam, and then deputy inspector general of the Rajshahi Range Khurshid Hossain.
According to the case statement and family members, police and local Awami League activists went to Pardilalpur on August 17, 2016, to arrest Setaour. After failing to find him, a police team allegedly led by Mozammel, Shah Alam and Ramzan took Mizanur away.
Local Awami League leaders Abdus Salam, Rokon Ali, Istiak Ali, Abul Kalam Azad and Touhidul Islam allegedly assisted in the operation.
When villagers tried to resist, they were reportedly threatened with arrest and criminal cases.
The family later approached then Additional Superintendent of Police Mahbub Alam, who allegedly instructed them to go to Shibganj Police Station the following day. At the station, they were reportedly told that Mizanur had been taken to the office of then Rajshahi Range DIG Khurshid Hossain for interrogation.
Family members said they went to the DIG’s office but were allegedly treated rudely and driven away.
They later contacted Mozammel, who allegedly demanded Tk 2 million for Mizanur’s release and threatened that he would be killed and his body disappeared if the money was not paid.
After consulting senior BNP leaders, the family collected Tk 9 lakh from party funds and personal savings and handed it to Mozammel through Rezaul. When the remaining Tk 11 lakh was demanded seven days later, an argument reportedly broke out.
On December 27, Rezaul was allegedly taken from a mess in Rajshahi. The following day, police reportedly brought him handcuffed to the family home and searched the premises.
The family said Rezaul was beaten and taken away in a microbus after police allegedly threatened that both brothers would be released if Setaour was handed over. They have not been seen since.
Family alleges ‘Operation Eagle Hunt’ killing
Setaour Rahman told Asia Post that the family later learned that Mizanur had allegedly been killed in a purported militant operation known as “Operation Eagle Hunt”.
“We learned that my brother Mizanur was killed in a staged ‘crossfire’ during an alleged militant operation called ‘Operation Eagle Hunt’. But even his body was not handed over to us. We still do not know what happened to my younger brother Rezaul,” he said.
Setaour also alleged that the family paid police hundreds of thousands of taka in an attempt to save Mizanur, but the brothers were never returned.
He further alleged that the accused SI Mozammel and senior police officials remain in service.
Setaour has already met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman seeking justice and information about his missing brothers, according to the family. The prime minister reportedly instructed his deputy press secretary, Atikur Rahman Ruman, to look into the matter and assured the family of assistance.
Ainal Haque, meanwhile, has been left physically and mentally devastated by the disappearance of his two sons. Relatives said he breaks down whenever their names are mentioned and continues to wait for their return.
Evidence cited in investigation
An Asia Post investigation found that SI Gazi Mozammel and SI Shah Alam were directly involved in the operation in which the two brothers allegedly disappeared, according to information gathered by the newspaper.
A team from the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit in Dhaka also allegedly participated in the operation. Evidence was reportedly found of the presence of then CTTC Inspector Azizul Haque Mia and SI Kawsar Mia.
Local residents who tried to record the operation on video were allegedly stopped, and SI Mozammel reportedly deleted the footage.
A source familiar with the investigation alleged that former Additional Superintendent of Police Mahbub Alam was at the forefront during the purported “Operation Eagle Hunt” and that several people, including Mizanur, were allegedly killed in the operation.
Accused official denies allegations
Mahbub Alam, then an additional superintendent of police and now serving as an SP, denied all allegations in a statement to Asia Post.
He said the allegations were “completely baseless and motivated”, claiming that he was in Dhaka attending a 15-day institutional training programme on the date mentioned in the case.
“I was not even in Chapainawabganj at that time. Besides, I was serving as additional superintendent of police (administration and finance). The then SP and OC can speak about the operation,” he said.
BNP demands speedy trial
Chapainawabganj district BNP convener Golam Zakaria called for a speedy trial of those allegedly involved in the disappearance and killing of the two brothers.
“Their mother died of a stroke after suffering the trauma of the disappearance of her two sons in 2016. An investigation team of the International Crimes Tribunal has already visited the scene and conducted an on-site investigation,” he said.
“We want all police officials and political leaders involved in the disappearance and alleged killings to face trial quickly.”