Enforced disappearances: Commission receives 400 complaints, most against RAB, DGFI, CTTC

The inquiry commission formed to investigate incidents of enforced disappearances during the Awami League era has found proof of the existence of secret detention centre Aynaghor.

The information was made public by the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry and retired High Court justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury at a press briefing held on enforced disappearances at Gulshan today (3 October).

He said, in the last 13 working days after the commission started its work, a total of 400 complaints were submitted to them. The commission then went to the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) office.

The Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) as popularly known as 'Aynaghor' is located within the DGFI headquarters in the capital's Kochukhet area. There are around 22 cells in the two-storey building which were used as detention centres, said the commission.

Earlier on 27 August, the interim government formed a five-member commission to investigate cases of enforced disappearances during the Awami League regime involving various intelligence and law enforcement agencies since 2010.

During the briefing, Moinul said, "We have taken cognisance of the complaints by those who had been victims of enforced disappearances by the law-enforcement agencies. We will also call those who have been accused and take action if they do not appear before the commission."

"Most of the complaints are against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Detective Branch of police, DGFI and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit (CTTC). We visited Aynaghor on 25 September and DB and CTTC premises on 1 October. We did not find any detainee there as we think all of them might have been released after 5 August," Moinul added.

The president of the commission mentioned the deadline for submitting complaints was extended from 30 September to 10 October.

"About 75 victims of enforced disappearances came to us in person and we recorded their statements," he said, adding that many complaints have also been sent by post and email. 

"If necessary, the deadline for taking complaints will be extended again."

Whether or not they can finish the investigation process within three months will be determined in the upcoming days, he also said. 

Sajjad Hossain, a member of the commission, said, "During our visit, we found the victims' description of the place match what we saw of the detention centre Aynaghor. But some changes were already there. They [Aynaghor operators] destroyed many important pieces of evidence. Especially the writings on the walls that have been painted over. We told them verbally and have also informed them in writing that the state in which we found the Aynaghor should not change until the investigation is over." 

Nur Khan Liton, a human rights defender who is also a member of the commission, said, "We will not single out the victims by identifying them. We want to hear every complaint. We want to know what actually happened to them. We want to understand how they were detained without obeying the laws."

Another member of the commission Nabila Idris said among the 400 complaints, many of the incidents came to light for the first time. 

No one ever talked about these incidents before, general diaries of the victims were not filed at police stations, she noted. 

"We invite everyone to come to the commission. We want to keep focus on these complaints. Many complaints are coming from outside of Dhaka. If no one can come [in person], you can send a complaint by post or email. We will treat them with the utmost importance. We will call and also listen to your words, too."

According to a circular, signed by Cabinet Division Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain on 27 August, the scope of the investigation covers incidents from 1 January 2010 to 5 August 2024. 

It includes all cases of enforced disappearances allegedly carried out by members of the Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch, Detective Branch, Ansar Battalion, National Security Intelligence (NSI), Defense Forces, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and the Coast Guard.

Under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1956, the commission is responsible for documenting the details of each case of enforced disappearance and making appropriate recommendations to the authorities concerned.