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TL;DR
- The Aynaghar detention center within DGFI headquarters in Dhaka has been identified as having 22 cells, as part of an investigation into enforced disappearances.
- A commission formed by the interim government has received 400 complaints against law enforcement agencies, including RAB and DGFI, regarding disappearances.
- The commission is investigating cases from January 2010 to August 2024 and has extended the deadline for complaints to October 10.
- Key evidence at Aynaghar has been altered, and the commission is working to preserve its current state for the investigation.
The Joint Interrogation Cell, known as Aynaghar, is a notorious detention center located within the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) headquarters in Dhaka’s Kachukhet area. This facility, containing approximately 22 cells, was identified by a commission investigating enforced disappearances during the Awami League government’s tenure. At a recent press conference, the commission revealed it had received 400 complaints about disappearances, primarily implicating law enforcement agencies like the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), DGFI, Detective Branch (DB), and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC).
Moinul Islam Chowdhury, the commission’s chairman and former High Court justice, stated that the commission had visited the DGFI office and confirmed Aynaghar’s existence based on victim descriptions. However, they noted that crucial evidence had been destroyed, such as writings on the walls being painted over. The commission has instructed DGFI to preserve Aynaghar’s current state until the investigation concludes.
The commission, formed on August 27 by an interim government, aims to investigate enforced disappearances from January 1, 2010, to August 5, 2024. It plans to summon those accused to hear their side of the story and take legal action if they fail to appear. The deadline for submitting complaints has been extended to October 10, with 75 families of victims already providing statements in person.
Nur Khan Liton, a human rights defender and commission member, emphasized the importance of hearing every complaint to understand how victims were detained. Nabila Idris, another member, highlighted that many incidents reported among the 400 complaints were previously undisclosed and not recorded at police stations.
The investigation covers cases allegedly involving various security forces, including the Police, RAB, BGB, CID, Special Branch, DB, Ansar Battalion, NSI, Defense Forces, DGFI, and Coast Guard. The commission is tasked with documenting details of each case and making recommendations to relevant authorities under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1956. The outcome will determine if the investigation can be completed within three months.
Source: TBS News
