The Joint Interrogation Cell, frequently ceaselessly known as Aynaghar – the scandalous detention centre – is positioned within the 2-storey headquarters of the Directorate Total of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) within the capital’s Kachukhet dwelling and contains around 22 cells, consistent with the cost formed to investigate conditions of enforced disappearances right by the tenure of the Awami League authorities.
At its first professional press conference on Thursday since its institution, the cost said that it had received a total of 400 complaints within 13 working days, basically against several regulation enforcement companies.
Quite lots of the complaints of disappearances had been filed against the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), DGFI, Detective Branch (DB), and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said passe Excessive Court justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, the chairman of the cost.
He said that consistent with the complaints filed by victims and their relatives, the cost visited the DGFI workplace and pinpointed the clandestine detention centre.
Sajjad Hossain, a member of the cost, said, “In the end of our consult with, we seen that the victims’ descriptions matched those we encountered within the DGFI detention centre [Aynaghar].”
On the different hand, some adjustments bag already been made. Many most critical items of proof bag been destroyed, particularly the writings on the walls, which bag been painted over, he said.
“We bag now verbally communicated with them [DGFI], as smartly as provided written review, that the situation of Aynaghar must light live unchanged unless the investigation is complete,” Sajjad Hossain added.
Commission head Moinul Islam said, “We bag now thoroughly examined the complaints from those who went lacking under the mumble’s authority or by regulation enforcement companies. We are able to furthermore summon those against whom complaints bag been lodged to hear their facet of the story. If the accused fail to appear, apt motion will most likely be taken.”
“On 25 September, we visited the DGFI detention centre and on 1 October, we furthermore inspected the DB and CTTC offices of the DMP. On the different hand, we did now not obtain any prisoners detained there; it seems everyone used to be launched after 5 August, following the autumn of the Awami League authorities,” he said.
Moinul Islam said the time limit for submitting complaints used to be first and significant location for 30 September but has now been prolonged to 10 October.
The cost head furthermore mentioned that 75 households of enforced disappearance victims came forward in particular person to produce their statements.
He illustrious that many complaints bag furthermore been received via post and electronic mail. If wanted, the time limit for accepting complaints could furthermore very smartly be prolonged again.
Moinul Islam added that a resolution will most likely be made within the coming days relating to whether the investigation could furthermore very smartly be completed within three months.
Nur Khan Liton, an smartly-known human rights defender and a member of the cost, said, “We’re looking out for to hear each criticism. We’re looking out for to know what really occurred to the victims. We’re looking out for to know the scheme they had been detained.”
Every other price member, Nabila Idris, said that most of the incidents reported amongst the 400 complaints bag approach to gentle for the first time.
She illustrious that these conditions of disappearance had been under no circumstances beforehand discussed, and their frequent diaries weren’t recorded at police stations.
“We invite everyone to approach to the cost. We’re looking out for to prioritise these complaints. Many experiences are coming from exterior Dhaka. If people can not approach in particular person, they’ll post their complaints via post or electronic mail, and we are able to treat them with the utmost importance. We are able to furthermore attain out to them and listen to their accounts,” Nabila Idris added.
On 27 August, the intervening time authorities formed a 5-member price to investigate conditions of enforced disappearances provocative numerous intelligence and regulation enforcement companies.
In step with a circular, signed by Cupboard Division Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain on 27 August, the scope of the investigation covers incidents from 1 January 2010 to 5 August 2024.
It entails all conditions of enforced disappearances allegedly performed by people of the Police, RAB, BGB, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Particular Branch, DB, Ansar Battalion, National Security Intelligence (NSI), Protection Forces, DGFI, and Fly Guard.
Below the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1956, the cost is accountable for documenting the critical aspects of every case of enforced disappearance and making applicable options to the authorities fervent.
