Secret prisons found in all forces
The Commission on Disappearances has found secret detention centers within all forces, including secret prisons inside the Police Lines. However, the actual number of detention centers is not yet known. The commission formed to investigate the GUMCA also said that there is little hope for the return of the 330 disappeared people. This information was given at a press conference at the commission’s office in Gulshan in the capital on Tuesday.
The head of the Disappearances Commission, Mainul Islam Chowdhury, said that 1,752 complaints have been submitted to the commission, out of which 1,000 complaints and the verification of the documents attached to them have been initially completed. The commission has recorded the statements of 280 complainants. In addition, the statements of about 45 officials from various levels of law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been recorded. An investigation is underway into the current status or fate of the 330 disappeared people who have not returned. However, it can be said that in general, there is little hope for their return.
The commission head said that the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the highest orderer on behalf of the government in the GUMCA. The disappearances took place on her orders.
Incidentally, the interim government has formed a ‘Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances’ under the leadership of a retired High Court judge to investigate the disappearances by law enforcement agencies during the ousted Awami League government. On August 27, the Cabinet Division issued a notification to form the five-member commission headed by retired Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury.
The commission head said that the commission is investigating the involvement of members of various law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies who are accused of abducting Bangladeshi citizens. Some fear that the entire force is becoming panicked because of a few individuals involved in the disappearances. He said that the members of the law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies who are involved in the disappearances are their personal criminal liability. Because criminals often try to hide behind their religion, community, social group, etc. to escape the law. But
Justice is never done based on the identity of a person, it is based on evidence. Because criminal offenses are personal liability. There is no scope to blame the community for this.
The commission chief said that the people who gave instructions to the disappearances are responsible. There are many of them. There were secret detention centers and secret detention centers in every force. He said that some people fear that the entire force is being terrorized or panic-stricken because of a few people involved in the disappearances. But in this context, it should be noted that the members of the law enforcement forces and intelligence agencies who are involved in the disappearances are their personal criminal responsibility.
Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury said that if the people involved in the disappearances are brought under the law, the stain of the relevant forces will be erased and the image of the forces will shine. No one is above the law. This is the essence of the rule of law. He said that this commission was formed under the ‘Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1956’ and is working completely free from sin and independently. Therefore, there is no reason for the work of this commission to disrupt the regular activities of patriotic members of any force.
The commission chief said that as soon as several secret detention centers under the control of DGFI, CTTC and RAB were discovered in various districts including Dhaka, Bogra, Narayanganj, Rajshahi, Chittagong, the commission inspected them and gave instructions to keep them unchanged. For example, within a few weeks of the formation of the commission, the DGFI’s JIC (Mirror Room) and the TFI of RAB Headquarters were inspected and the process of destroying evidence was ordered to be stopped immediately. Later, on February 12, the chief advisor and some members of the advisory council, along with the relevant victims, visited a total of three secret detention centers, including these two.
Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury said that India has provided a list of 1,067 people, which the commission on disappearances is reviewing. It is being investigated whether there are any disappeared people in that list. India will provide this list later.
Mainul Islam Chowdhury said that information has been received from the police superintendents of the border districts and the sector commanders of the BGB about 140 people who were pushed into Bangladesh from India after August. In the initial investigation, the names of any of the missing persons have not been found yet. A person named Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, who was missing from Dhamrai, was pushed into Bangladesh via the Chapainawabganj border on December 22. The commission is investigating this matter.
Highlighting the information about the discovery of secret detention centers in the police lines, Nur Khan, a member of the Commission of Inquiry into Disappearances, said that a secret detention center was found in the Bogra Police Lines. Here, prisoners were tortured in the name of interrogation. A secret detention center like a prison was built inside the police lines. This is absolutely absurd. We found that in Bogra. We think that we will find more such places in many cases.
Regarding the detention centers, Nur Khan said that these were built within the last 15 years. Probably within the last 10 to 12 years. Prisoners were brought here from different districts and tortured in the name of interrogation. Many people may have died from here too.
Earlier, the commission found secret detention centers at the DGFI headquarters, CTTC headquarters, various battalions of RAB and various police intelligence offices. They have been ordered to be kept intact.
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