United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) leader Michael Chakma has been freed from “Aynaghar.”
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, the lawyer who filed a “habeas corpus” petition seeking his discovery, confirmed the matter on Wednesday, saying, “Michael Chakma has been handed over to his friends.
“I have spoken to a friend who was with him, and he has assured me that Michael Chakma had been released.”
Michael went missing in April, 2019, after he left for Dhaka following organisational activities in Kanchpur, where he had gone to visit several regions to organise programmes for the Boisabi Festival, and the anniversary of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse.
Michael Chakma's eldest sister Subhadra Chakma sought the High Court's direction, on May 13, to help with his rescue.
On May 21, the High Court ordered the home secretary to submit a report detailing Michael’s whereabouts, and updates on his rescue mission within five weeks.
Later, the then inspector general of police replied to the court that they could not find anybody named Michael Chakma in any prisons in Bangladesh, according to media reports.
On Tuesday, former Brig Gen of Army Abdullahil Aman Azmi – the eldest son of late Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Ghulam Azam, and Mir Ahmad bin Quasem – the younger son of the executed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali was released from “Aynaghar.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, relatives of the missing gathered in front of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) seeking information about their near and dear ones. At that time, they wanted to know about the detainees in “Aynaghar.”
A delegation, composed of women's rights leader Shireen Huq and Mayer Daak Co-founder Sanjida Islam Tulee, went inside the DGFI headquarters this morning.
Speaking to The Business Post, Shireen Huq said, “The DGFI completely denied having any knowledge or information about enforced disappearances.
“Contrarily to Tuesday, today [Wednesday] a DGFI officer offered us to go inside and explore. But we did not enter the premises, as they have already said confidently that there is nothing here.”
Shireen added, “They [DGFI] are ready to cooperate with us, and they offered us their help. We said you [DGFI] are the intelligence agency, please find our people. Where did they go? Either facilitate their return, or give us the information about their last known location.
“In case of deaths, give their death certificates. The DGFI said they will try their best. The agency has 23 facilities, and they will search there. An official also gave me a phone number.”
Shireen then mentioned, “The DGFI recommended that we meet the army chief. We tried to contact his office to make an appointment. But we are yet to get it. We had asked for an appointment so that we can meet him on Thursday or Friday.”
