Evidence destroyed in 'Ayna Ghor': Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances

The commission has received nearly 400 complaints of forced disappearances within two weeks of its formation

The commission formed to investigate cases of enforced disappearances during the past Awami League government has found evidence of destroyed materials at the much-debated 'Ayna Ghor', a secret internment centre run by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, or DGFI.

Speaking at a press conference at the commission's office in Gulshan, Dhaka on Thursday, commission president and retired High Court judge Moinul Islam Chowdhury said they had received nearly 400 complaints of forced disappearances within two weeks of starting their work.

He shared his experience of visiting the detention centre at the DGFI office, commonly referred to as the 'Ayna Ghor'.

The joint interrogation cell called ‘Ayna Ghor' was situated inside the DGFI Headquarters, he said. The two-storey building had 22 cells, he added.

"The 'Ayna Ghor' or joint interrogation cell is within the compound of the DGFI. It's a-two storey building with 20 to 22 cells on the ground floor. There are a few rooms on the second floor. It is called 'Ayna Ghor' on social media but basically it's a joint interrogation cell," he said.

The highest number of complaints were lodged against the Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB, DGFI, the Detective Branch, or DB, and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, or CTTC, unit, the commission chief said.

"We visited the DGFI 'Ayna Ghor' on Sept 25 and the DB and CTTC offices on Oct 1. However, we haven't found any inmates there. Probably, they were released after Aug 5. We haven't visited the RAB one as yet. We'll visit it soon."

Commission member Sajjad Hossain added that evidence at the 'Ayna Ghor' had been destroyed. "The most important thing is that much of the crucial evidence was erased by painting over the walls.

"Victims said that many wrote messages, names, and even phone numbers and addresses on the walls. But we could not find them due to the repainting. This happened shortly after Aug 5, following a regime change, we believe," Hossain said.

Some people filed complaints in writing while some wrote emails, he said when asked. “You can understand that it’s a time-consuming task,” he said.

“We’re working with the complaints of those subjected to forced disappearances by law enforcers or under state orders. We’ll summon those accused. If they don’t show up, we’ll take legal action,” said Moinul Islam Chowdhury.

When asked, he said the members of the commission felt safe.

”We have no institutional pressure on us.”

On Aug 27, the government set up a commission to investigate cases of enforced disappearances allegedly carried out by law-enforcing agencies during the 15-year rule of the Sheikh Hasina regime. The Cabinet Division announced the formation of a five-strong commission headed by former justice Moinul under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956.

The commission's mandate is to investigate enforced disappearances involving members of the Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Branch, Detective Branch, Ansar Battalion, National Security Intelligence, or NSI, and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, the Cabinet Division said in its notice.

The commission issued a public notice stating the process to file a complaint.

Initially, the deadline for filing a complaint was Sept 30, but it was later extended to Oct 10.