ICT judges likely to visit two secret detention centres presumed to be Aynaghar

Judges of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) and its prosecution are likely to visit two alleged secret detention centres, known as Aynaghar, in Dhaka.

One is the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC), reportedly operated by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), while the other is the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) Cell, run by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab).

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ICT prosecutors said tribunal members may visit the sites as many victims of enforced disappearance were allegedly detained and tortured there for years.

Two crimes against humanity cases over enforced disappearance are currently on trial before the tribunal against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, and several former and serving army officers.

Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam urged the tribunal to inspect the two facilities, saying such visits were necessary. One is located at Kochukhet, while the other is at Rab-1 headquarters in Uttara.

The tribunal chairman agreed in principle, though no date has yet been fixed.

At a press briefing, the chief prosecutor noted that judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia had conducted site visits during trial proceedings. Referring to the ICT’s Rules of Procedure, he said judges are empowered to visit any place if deemed necessary in the interest of a fair trial.