Corruption is Everywhere > In Husina's Bangladesh political opponents disappeared

 

Five years without daylight: Hasina's 'enforced disappearance' of Bangladesh dissidents

Bangadesh's interim government has vowed to investigate the cases of hundreds of dissidents abducted by security forces under the regime of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. FRANCE 24's special correspondents in Bangladesh Navodita Kumari, Léa Delfolie, and Khansa Juned met with one former detainee as well as with activists and families still hoping to be reunited with their loved ones.

Issued on: 23/08/2024 - 19:51Modified: 23/08/2024 - 20:04

1 min

By:FRANCE 24

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FRANCE 24

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Video by:Léa DELFOLIE

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Khansa JUNED

Families of missing dissidents in Bangladesh are harbouring fresh hope that their loved ones will resurface following the ouster of of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month.

Rights groups say that more than 600 people, including political opponents, lawyers, and journalists, have been victims of “enforced disappearances” during Hasina’s 15-year autocratic rule.

Indigenous rights activist Michael Chakma says he saw no daylight during the five years he was held in Dhaka by Bangladesh’s special police unit. He was released two days after ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted by student protests. “I was so scared for my life,” he says.

The interim government has pledged to fully investigate these forced disappearances. Three people have already been freed so far.

Watch our full report by clicking on the video player above.

Corruption is Everywhere - In Thailand It Silences Political Opponents

Thai progressive party leader charged with sedition

By Sommer Brokaw

Thai Future Forward Party co-founder and leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (C) talks to media

after meeting with police at the Pathumwan Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday.

Photo by EPA-EFE/Narong Sangnak

(UPI) -- Thailand's military junta filed a sedition charge Saturday against a 40-year-old progressive party leader.

The sedition charge is among three that Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit faces in connection with a pro-democracy rally he attended four years ago.

Since the sedition charge relates to national security, he will be tried in military court, which Thanathorn said he was slightly worried about.

Thanathorn also faces a charge of helping a suspect escape and a charge of assembling of more than 10 causing unrest. If convicted of all charges, he could serve up to nine years in prison, including seven years for the sedition charge alone.

The junta, called the National Council for Peace and Order, has ruled Thailand since a 2014 military coup forced the democratically elected government out.

Police allege Thanathorn "provided assistance" to a leader of demonstrators against the coup who violated the junta's ban on gatherings of more than five people.

Thanathorn, the billionaire leader of the youth-backed Future Forward Party, which he formed last year, said the complaint's timing, after his party tentatively came in third with 6.3 million votes in last month's contested elections, was not coincidental.

"We're convinced that this case is politically motivated," Thanathorn said.

The March 24 election was Thailand's first election in eight years and showed inconclusive results. With more than 90 percent of the vote counted, the pro-military party led with 7.59 million votes, and the populist party trailed closely behind with 7.12 million votes, and the FFP came in third.

Thanathorn's progressive policy ideas and use of social media has attracted youth to his campaign.

He has denied the charges and has a May 15 deadline to give written testimony to police.

He also faces a separate cybercrime charge over criticizing the Junta on Facebook in July. Thanathorn has denied the charge.

Prosecutors will decide on April 26 whether he will face trial for the cybercrime charge.