Michael Chakma, a Bangladeshi Indigenous rights activist, endured five years of harrowing detention in a secret prison allegedly run by the country’s military intelligence. During his time in captivity, he was kept in a dark, windowless space, often handcuffed and shackled. Chakma was one of over 700 people forcibly disappeared by Bangladeshi authorities during the 15-year rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Many of these victims, including Chakma, faced severe human rights violations.
Chakma, known for his criticism of the government’s treatment of the Chakma people, was abducted in 2019. He spent five years in solitary confinement, fearing for his life and unsure of the outside world. However, in a sudden turn of events, he was released in a forest and told he was free. Chakma, blindfolded and restrained, eventually found his way home, reuniting with his siblings in an emotional moment.
Since Hasina’s resignation, several victims of enforced disappearances, including Chakma, have been returned to their families. The detainees were reportedly held in a network of secret prisons known as Aynaghar, operated by military intelligence. These facilities functioned as fully operational prisons, complete with medical facilities and strict orders to keep detainees silent about their ordeal.
For Chakma, Quasem, and others, the experience of captivity was filled with uncertainty, isolation, and fear. Despite the hardships they faced, they are grateful to have survived and been reunited with their loved ones. The end of their ordeal marks a glimmer of hope in the long struggle for human rights and justice in Bangladesh.