Rights Groups Decry Bangladesh Disappearances Human rights groups are urging Bangladesh to order an independent investigation into the growing number of cases where opposition members and activists have disappeared. The New York-based Human Rights Watch expressed concern on Friday as local rights group Ain-O-Salish Kendra said at least 22 people have disappeared this year. Another Dhaka-based group, Odhikar, says more than 50 people have disappeared since 2010. Security agencies including elite anti-crime force Rapid Action Battalion have been blamed for many disappearances, but the agencies deny the allegations. Bangladesh's opposition parties enforced three days of nationwide general strike this week to protest the disappearance of opposition leader Elias Ali, who went missing April 17.