“Whoever is the accused, they will get justice. The arrested accused will not be tortured. We want only the criminals to fear the DB office, not anyone else,” said Rezaul Karim Mallick

TDS Desk:

There will be no “Aynaghar”, the infamous black site or detention centre run by security forces during the Awami League regime, anymore at the Detective Branch (DB) office, said the new DB chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Rezaul Karim Mallick.

Speaking at a media briefing at the DMP Media Centre at Minto Road in the capital today (5 October), he said the DB office will be cleansed of tainted chapters and turned into a place where people get justice.

“Whoever is the accused, they will get justice. The arrested accused will not be tortured. We want only the criminals to fear the DB office, not anyone else.”

“We will listen to the victims and the helpless and see how we can provide them legal aid. I want to reestablish the DB as a place of trust and love for the people,” he stressed.

“There will also be no ‘Bhaater Hotel’ [at the DB office],” he added, in reference to a heavily criticised trend one of his predecessors, former DB chief Harun-or-Rashid, started where he used to have meals — which infamously included rice — with guests and detainees or arrestees.

Addressing the briefing, also attended by senior DB officials, Rezaul said the DB office will also not be a place for celebrities to spend time anymore.

“The DB office of this new Bangladesh will be a place of trust and confidence for the victims,” he added.

“No form of injustice or unfairness will be tolerated in the DB office. Alert, skilled and professional officers have been appointed at the DB office. In coordination with them, efforts are underway to restructure the DB and restore and improve its lost image,” said the DB chief, who was appointed on September 1.

“I myself am not above the law. I assure you that if any member of the DB is found involved in any unethical or unprofessional conduct, they will not be spared at all,” he added.