Yunus for horror museum to document enforced disappearance

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said a ‘horror museum’ should be established to exhibit the findings of torture and persecution uncovered by the Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances.

“The second interim report of the Commission primarily highlighted the severe torture endured by victims of enforced disappearance. Upon hearing these details, Professor Yunus said there should be a horror museum to document this,” said his Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam.

Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on the Commission’s second interim report submitted to the Chief Adviser, he also said the horrific incidents of enforced disappearance that took place in Bangladesh were deeply disturbing for everyone.

Referring to the establishment of the July–August Mass Revolution Memorial Museum at Gono Bhaban, Alam said part of that museum will be dedicated to the findings and evidence of how the horrific torture was inflicted on the victims of enforced disappearance.

Earlier, he said the Inquiry Commission, led by its chief Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, submitted its report to Professor Yunus at the State Guest House in Jamuna.

Three other members of the commission--Noor Khan, Sajjad Hossain, and Nabila Idris--were also present.

Narrating the findings of the report, Alam said the intelligence wing of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) acted as a killing force in cases of enforced disappearance. “They were the main actors behind the enforced disappearances.”

He said the report outlined how individuals were forcibly disappeared and how many were subsequently killed during the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina.

“The report was compiled based on the testimonies of victims of enforced disappearance, as well as accounts from a few perpetrators,” the CA’s Press Secretary said.

The Inquiry Commission on Enforced Disappearances has so far identified approximately 1,850 cases of enforced disappearance and continues to uncover new cases daily, he said, adding that the Commission has thoroughly scrutinised each of the 1,350 documented cases.

The commission members mentioned that the number of complaints could exceed 3,500, said the CA’s press wing.

They said more than 300 individuals are still missing among the victims of enforced disappearance.

After the report was submitted, the Chief Adviser said, “Arrangements must be made to publish the report on the website and in book form. There is interest in this not only within Bangladesh but globally as well.”

At that time, he instructed the commission members to identify the urgent actions outlined in the report and specify which ministries are responsible for each, so that the government can begin work within a short timeframe.

One commission member told the Chief Adviser, “The incidents are so horrific that many of the involved officials and others suffer from remorse. They have contacted us as an effort for self-purification. Two officers even wrote letters formally requesting to get rid of it. These letters were found at Ganobhaban. The then Army Chief publicly acknowledged these letters.”

The commission chief requested the Chief Adviser to take initiatives so that the families of the missing persons can at least carry out banking transactions.

Under the existing law, he said, a person missing for seven years can be declared dead and he recommended amending the law to reduce this period to five years.

Prof Yunus advised the Commission to inform the government of the necessary steps so that action can be taken as soon as possible.

Thanking the commission members, the Chief Adviser said, “You are working despite fear, intimidation, and various threats. You are an inspiration to the people of this country. In the future, those who work for human rights will look up to you as an inspiration.”

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abdul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad were also present at the press briefing.