An inquiry commission investigating cases of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh has uncovered eight secret detention centres in Dhaka and the surrounding areas.
The commission revealed this shocking discovery in a press conference today but decided not to share the locations or ownership of these centres in order to protect the investigation.
One of the most disturbing findings was a small cell, allegedly run by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which measured only 3.5 by 4 feet.
"There was no light in the cell except for a small hole, and no proper sanitation except for a drain. People were forced to do everything in this tiny, unhygienic space," said Nur Khan Liton, a member of the commission.
Liton also mentioned that some individuals had been kept in such cells for years under these cruel conditions.
The commission is currently investigating over 400 cases of enforced disappearances.
Of these, 172 cases are linked to RAB, 37 to the police`s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, 26 to the Directorate General Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and 55 to the Detective Branch of the police.
The remaining 68 cases involve other agencies.
A major concern raised during the briefing was the destruction of evidence related to these secret detention centres.
"We have reports that law enforcement agencies are destroying the cells and walls of these detention sites. This is an effort to erase any evidence of wrongdoing," said Nabila Idris, another member of the commission.
She warned that current officers who are covering up these actions may soon be seen as complicit in the crimes committed by their predecessors.
Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, the chairman of the commission, led the press briefing. He and other members of the commission emphasized the importance of bringing justice to those who have suffered from enforced disappearances.
The commission`s work is ongoing, and they are carefully looking into the evidence of these secret centres.
Their goal is to uncover the truth about what happened to people who were forcibly taken and held in these hidden locations, and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
