Dhaka: Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced today that the interim government will conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify each “Aynaghar” cell used for confining victims of enforced disappearance. “Each and every location of Aynaghar previously used as secret detention and torture cells will be identified,” Alam stated during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad, and Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were present at the briefing. Alam emphasized that all Aynaghar cells will remain sealed off as evidence for legal processes related to enforced disappearances. “All Aynaghars will remain sealed off until further investigation,” he added.
Alam disclosed that there are between 700 to 800 Aynaghar cells across the country, all of which will be uncovered. “We will identify every Aynaghar and you will hear about it in the future,” he assured. Responding to inquiries, he confirmed that individuals involved in killings during the July uprising and enforced disappearances will face justice.
The press briefing took place following a visit by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to three secret detention cells in Dhaka. During the visit, he was accompanied by eight victims of enforced disappearance, six advisers, journalists from Qatar-based Al Jazeera, Sweden-based journalism platform Netra News, state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV), and members of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance.