Dhaka, Feb 12 (V7N) – Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus visited the controversial and much-discussed secret prisons, known as ‘Aynaghor’, in three locations across the capital on Wednesday afternoon. The sites, located in Agargaon, Kachukhet, and Uttara, have been associated with allegations of enforced disappearances, torture, and gross human rights violations.

Speaking to the media after his visit, Dr. Yunus described the conditions as "horrifying" and beyond anything he could have imagined. "If there is such a thing as humanity, it has been buried far deeper here. The brutal conditions, the things that happened here… from what I have heard, it seems unbelievable. Is this really our world? Our society?" he said.

Dr. Yunus was accompanied by victims of disappearances who shared their traumatic experiences firsthand. "Those who have been oppressed, those who were victims—they were with us today. I heard from their own mouths how they were picked up from the streets for no reason, framed with false witnesses, and labeled as terrorists or militants. They were brought in under these false pretenses," he recounted.

The victims described being detained in inhumane conditions, often in tiny, makeshift cells no larger than chicken coops, and subjected to brutal torture. Some had been held for years without any formal charges or trials.

The Chief Advisor revealed that these secret detention facilities are not confined to Dhaka. "I thought these Aynaghor were only here in the capital. But today, I learned that there are different versions of them all over the country. Some say there are 700, others say 800. The exact number is unknown—how many are known, how many remain hidden," he stated.

Dr. Yunus emphasized that the people detained in these facilities have been deprived of even the most basic human rights. "One person told me they were kept in huts smaller than a chicken coop. They have been kept like this for years," he added.

When asked about compensation for the victims, Dr. Yunus stressed that justice is the government's first priority. "We want to build a new Bangladesh and a new environment. The government has formed various commissions for this purpose. The aim is to ensure that such incidents do not repeat themselves," he said.

The visit is part of a broader initiative by the interim government to investigate cases of enforced disappearances and torture allegedly carried out during the previous Awami League government. The Disappearance Investigation Commission has already reported discovering multiple Aynaghor detention centers under the control of various security forces.

Dr. Yunus's visit underscores the interim government's commitment to addressing human rights abuses and ensuring transparency and accountability.

Several key government advisors accompanied Dr. Yunus during his visit, including:

  • Professor Asif Nazrul, Advisor for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs
  • Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change
  • Adilur Rahman Khan, Advisor for Housing and Public Works
  • Mahfuz Alam, Advisor
  • Md. Nahid Islam, Advisor for Information and Broadcasting
  • Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Advisor for Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives

The visit to Aynaghor marks a significant step in uncovering the extent of human rights violations in Bangladesh and highlights the interim government's commitment to justice and reform.

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