ICC Chief Prosecutor
Destroyers of 'Aynaghor' evidences to face the music
Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam spoke to journalists after inspecting the 'Aynaghar'. Photo collected.
The Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Md. Aminul Islam, has said that many pieces of evidence at the "Aynaghors" (secret detention cells) were destroyed and new structures were built there.
He said, "Action will be taken against those involved in destroying this evidence, subject to investigation."
He made these remarks while responding to questions from journalists today (Saturday) afternoon after inspecting the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell, or secret detention facility, located at the RAB-1 headquarters in Dhaka's Uttara.
The Chief Prosecutor said that when the investigating agency began its work, a camouflage was created. The statements of the victims did not match the description of the detention cells. While investigating the matter, the agency found that walls had been constructed in some places to cover up areas. However, after removing those walls, they discovered 29 rooms, which was horrifying. Additionally, there is a death cell beneath those rooms, which is also very horrifying. Many people from that time are responsible for this, and those concerned will have to explain themselves. Later, those who built walls to cover the Aynaghar will also be brought to justice.
The Chief Prosecutor said that people who were picked up and brought there were kept for days, months, and even years. The rooms were so small that there was no arrangement to lie down; they had to spend days, months, and years sitting. This is how they were tortured. Some were released after a long time through false cases. This matches the descriptions given by the victims to the prosecution.
Present during the inspection of the Aynaghar were: Chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, members Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. Additionally, Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam, Prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Gazi M.H. Tamim, Faruk Ahmed, Shaikh Mahdi, Shahidul Islam Sardar, Tasmirul Islam, along with the prosecution team and defense lawyers, were also present.
Earlier, on July 21, Tribunal-1 decided on this inspection following an application by the prosecution. On that day, the Chief Prosecutor had applied to inspect the secret detention cells or "Aynaghors" of RAB, DGFI, and DB. At the same time, he described the torture and disappearances of people with opposing ideologies who were picked up and taken to these detention cells during the Awami League's successive regimes.
