Human Rights Watch (HRW) today called upon Bangladesh authorities to stop "tormenting families and provide information on the whereabouts of their loved ones disappeared by security forces".

Marking International Human Rights Day, to be observed tomorrow, HRW has documented 86 cases of victims in Bangladesh who were forcibly disappeared since 2009, and who remain missing.

"The Bangladesh government should mark International Human Rights Day by welcoming an independent international investigation into the whereabouts of the victims of enforced disappearance who remain missing," said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW.

"The only way to move forward is to finally bring closure to the families of victims and hold those responsible accountable," he said.

The HRW said senior UN officials, donors, and trade partners should step up measures to support holding senior members of Bangladesh security forces accountable and prevent future abuses.

The government has demonstrated over the last decade that it has no interest in taking seriously concerns repeatedly expressed by United Nations experts and international partners, it claimed.