A recent report by the Commission on Enforced Disappearance reveals that "specialized interrogation rooms equipped with torture devices" were found in nearly every detention facility across Bangladesh, despite efforts by perpetrators to destroy evidence after August 5, 2024.
The seventh chapter of the commission's second interim report, obtained by BSS, details how these rooms were designed to muffle victims' screams, with remnants of soundproofing found at almost every destroyed location. In some centers, music was even used to drown out the sounds of suffering and, presumably, for the interrogators' entertainment.
The report highlights specific torture methods and devices discovered, including a "rotating chair at RAB 2, CPC 3," the "jom tupi (head covering) at RAB 4 and DB," and a "pulley system used to suspend people at TFI (Taskforce Interrogation) cell."
Victims reportedly endured prolonged physical and psychological abuse, often receiving half the food rations of regular guards, kept handcuffed and blindfolded, and held in solitary confinement. "The uncertainty of their fate, coupled with these harsh conditions, led to constant distress," the report states.
The commission notes that victims were frequently subjected to enforced disappearance, allowing perpetrators to act without fear of legal repercussions. This environment emboldened torturers, with evidence sometimes erased or victims held until bruises faded before being presented publicly to conceal the crimes.
Beyond general discomfort, common torture methods included beatings, electric shocks (including genital shocks during urination), and the use of rotating chairs and full-body apparatuses.
The commission concluded that the consistent involvement of personnel over time indicates "the abuse was part of a sustained and organized effort." This systematic nature suggests that the torture was not only tolerated at lower levels but "likely supported by those at the highest echelon of power," as such a system would require explicit approval and budget allocations for infrastructure, equipment, and maintenance.
Therefore, the report emphasizes that responsibility for these "crimes against humanity cannot rest solely with the perpetrators on the ground; it extends to commanding officers and senior officials who allowed or even encouraged these practices."
