The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances today said that there is little chance of those, who are disappeared and still missing, being alive.

According to the commission's records, there are 330 cases of enforced disappearances involving individuals who have not returned.

Commission Chairperson Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury made these remarks at a press conference held at their office in the capital today.

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The commission is now inspecting records from India to determine if any of them are in Indian prisons or elsewhere, he said.

"We have received a list of 1,067 Bangladeshis incarcerated in Indian prisons over the last two to two-and-a-half years. We are in the process of checking if any of them were victims of enforced disappearance," he said.

Additionally, the commission has received a list of 140 individuals who were pushed into Bangladesh from India since the fall of the Awami League on August 5, 2024. However, an initial investigation into the list did not reveal any victims of enforced disappearance.

Justice Moinul also revealed that the commission has received 1,752 complaints regarding enforced disappearances and has investigated 1,000 of them.

"We found that the highest level of the government was involved in committing this crime," he said.

Asked whether former prime minister's defense adviser Tareque Siddiqui was involved in ordering enforced disappearances, the chairperson confirmed that the commission has found evidence of his involvement.

The commission has also interviewed 45 members of law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Commission members Justice Md Farid Ahmed Shibli, human rights activists Nur Khan Liton and Sazzad Hossain, and researcher Nabila Idris were also present.

Regarding the destruction of evidence at the Joint Interrogation Cell hosted by the DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) post-August 5, the commission said that identifying who should be held responsible remains a matter of inquiry.

The commission was also questioned about the arrest warrant against 12 individuals, including former heads of the DGFI, which has yet to be executed. "If they can't be arrested, they will be tried in absentia," said Moinul.

Researcher Nabila Idris added, "Officers have told us that they acted on orders from high-ups in the previous government. However, the current government has a mandate to investigate and bring justice to the victims of enforced disappearances. So, those who are now helping generals escape are not acting on the orders of superiors. This is your individual responsibility, and you are perpetuating the cycle of crime."