More than four months after fisherman Miraj Sheikh was allegedly taken away by people identifying themselves as Coast Guard members in Bagerhat’s Mongla, his family says they are still waiting for answers about his whereabouts.
The family has demanded that Miraj be rescued alive and returned to them, while human rights activists have called for an independent and impartial investigation into his disappearance.
The demands were raised at a press conference held at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club on Monday, organised by Miraj’s family and the Human Rights Support Society.
According to Miraj’s sister Liza Islam, two plainclothes individuals identifying themselves as Coast Guard members took him from Joymoni area of Mongla at around 7pm on 10 April.
She alleged that Miraj was first taken to the Harbaria Coast Guard Station and later removed from there on a Coast Guard speedboat.
“About 30 to 40 minutes after Miraj was taken to the station, a speedboat arrived from the Mongla side. Eight to 10 uniformed Coast Guard members were on board. They took Miraj away on that boat,” Liza said at the press conference.
She claimed the incident took place in front of Miraj’s wife and local residents.
Liza further alleged that the Coast Guard personnel left Miraj’s motorcycle, along with its key, with local tea stall owner Al Amin. Around 10 to 11 days later, the motorcycle was taken away by a Coast Guard member named Robin, she said.
The family said they contacted Coast Guard members on 10, 11 and 12 April after Miraj was taken away.
According to them, a Coast Guard member acknowledged that Miraj was in their custody and assured the family that he would be released within two or three days after questioning.
However, the family said they have received no information about him since then.
Protest, cases and court intervention
Miraj’s wife Mukta Fatema alleged that the family faced harassment after they held protests demanding his return.
She claimed that during a human chain programme, they were baton-charged, assaulted and later implicated in a case. She said family members spent 27 days in jail in connection with the case.
The family also alleged that on 11 June, when they went to the Harbaria Coast Guard Station seeking information about Miraj, they were attacked.
They claimed Miraj’s mother, wife and sister were assaulted and detained during the incident, and two cases were later filed against them.
Miraj’s wife on 23 April filed a general diary at Mongla Police Station
over the incident of his being taken away.
Later, Miraj’s father moved the High Court with a writ petition seeking his son’s recovery.
The family said the High Court on 12 July directed authorities to locate Miraj and produce him before the court within 15 working days. However, they said the order has not yet resulted in any information about his whereabouts.
‘Legal process must be followed’
Human rights activist Nur Khan Liton said any detention must follow due legal procedure.
“Under the law, if a person is detained, they must be produced before a court through the relevant police station. If there were allegations against Miraj, he should also have been handed over to the court through the legal process,” he said.
He said the amended Code of Criminal Procedure introduced in 2026 requires arresting authorities to disclose their identity and inform the detainee’s family or relatives about the allegations and place of detention.
HRW raises concern
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed concern over Miraj Sheikh’s disappearance, describing it as one of the first alleged enforced disappearance cases in Bangladesh after the July 2024 uprising.
Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at HRW, said thousands of people were subjected to enforced disappearance during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
“Miraj’s case shows that without genuine reforms, such incidents can happen again,” she said.
Ganguly also called for ensuring independent powers for the National Human Rights Commission to investigate enforced disappearance cases.
Asked about the allegations raised at the press conference, Coast Guard Public Relations Officer Commander Abu Sadik Mohammad Shafik Uddin told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Miraj Sheikh is not currently in Coast Guard custody.”
Regarding the claim that Miraj was detained and allegations that his family members were assaulted, he said, “Those who have claimed that Miraj was detained or have accused anyone of being involved in assaulting family members must provide specific names, identities and evidence. If specific evidence is found in these matters, action will be taken against those responsible.”
Asked about allegations of baton charges on villagers and family members at the Harbaria Coast Guard Station, assaults on Miraj’s mother, wife and sister, and the filing of cases against them, the Coast Guard official said, “There is video footage proving that Miraj Sheikh’s family vandalised the Coast Guard office. Police later took action against them.”
