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He revealed that investigations indicate hundreds of ‘Ayna Ghor’, possibly numbering 700-800
Published : 12 Feb 2025, 11:10 PM
All Awami League leaders involved in enforced disappearances and killings will be brought to justice, while the fate of the party will be decided by “the people of Bangladesh”, Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said.
During a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon, he spoke about the interim government's stance on holding the Awami League accountable for the “genocide” during July.
“Everyone involved in these enforced disappearances and killings from the Awami League will face justice, it is clear. The report also makes it clear who gave the orders for these killings,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus visited three locations in Dhaka where secret detention facilities, known as “Ayna Ghor”, were allegedly operated under the Sheikh Hasina government.
A report by the United Nations regarding the repression of the July-August uprising under the Awami League administration was also released, and the press secretary discussed it in the briefing.
Shafiqul said, “Children as young as four and six were murdered, their bodies burned. Thirteen percent of those killed were children—our sons and daughters. Those with blood on their hands will face justice. No one will escape accountability.”
"We will bring them to trial. That is why we have sought the extradition of Sheikh Hasina. She was in charge, and these killings happened under her orders.
“People have witnessed what this party has done over the past 15 years. They sold stories of development, but all we found was darkness, only darkness.”
700-800 ‘AYNA GHOR’ ACROSS BANGLADESH
The press secretary said, "Every ‘Ayna Ghor’ in Bangladesh will be found. According to the investigation by the Commission on Enforced Disappearances and the security forces, we have learned that the number of these secret detention cells is in the hundreds, possibly 700-800. More are being discovered.
“It is becoming clear that this was not just limited to Dhaka; many such cells existed in remote areas as well."
He continued, "At 10:30am, the Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, along with six advisors, the head of the commission, and five victims who were abducted during Hasina's 15 years in power, visited the widely discussed secret detention cells.
“They visited two RAB (Rapid Action Battalion)-run and one DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) -run torture facilities.
"They described how they were kept, tortured, and the days they spent there. Some were there for 8-9 years [Abdullahil Aman Azmi and Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem Arman].”
The press secretary expressed regret that not everyone could be taken to visit the “Ayna Ghor” due to logistical reasons.
