Gen Z Revolution: The Gruesome Reality Behind Bangladesh’s ‘House of Mirrors’
In the early hours of dawn, law student Iftekhar Alam awoke to a nightmare that would forever alter his life. The sound of banging on his apartment door marked the beginning of an ordeal no one could prepare for. Armed police officers burst into his home, accusing him of betraying Bangladesh. As they ransacked his apartment, the chaos was palpable. Alam recalls the officers’ madness as they demanded his phone and laptop at gunpoint.
Alam’s nightmare continued as he was blindfolded and taken to what he believes was Aynaghor, also known as the “House of Mirrors.” This notorious detention center, located at the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) headquarters in Dhaka, has been the epicenter of unimaginable horror under the 15-year regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Human rights organizations claim that hundreds were tortured there during her rule, which recently ended with her fleeing the country amidst massive protests.
Alam, a 23-year-old activist, was no stranger to the anti-government protests that had swept the nation. Initially sparked by opposition to government job quotas, these student-led demonstrations quickly evolved into a nationwide movement demanding Hasina’s resignation after a brutal crackdown that left hundreds dead. During his detention, Alam was subjected to relentless torture, including beatings with metal pipes that shattered bones in his foot, forcing him to walk in circles until he vomited from pain. The torment didn’t stop there; his captors extinguished cigarettes on his body and threatened him with further torture, calling it a “game.” Alam feared for his life, convinced he would not survive.
Unfortunately, Alam’s experience is not unique. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Detective Branch of the police are accused of operating a network of secret detention centers across the country where enforced disappearances and torture were rampant. A Bangladeshi human rights group, 709 people were forcibly disappeared under Hasina’s rule, with 155 still missing. International organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented similar abuses.
Following Hasina’s departure, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mohammed Yunus, now leading the interim government, has vowed to investigate these atrocities. He has established a commission to look into the disappearances and invited a UN fact-finding team to probe the abuses.
Alam was eventually released, but the physical and mental scars remain. His story is echoed by others, like Nusrat Tabassum, a 23-year-old political science student who was also tortured during her five-day detention. Despite the trauma, Tabassum continues to fight for a better future, embodying the spirit of the new “Bangladesh 2.0” – a nation that Gen Z is determined to reshape.
The streets of Dhaka are now alive with the optimism of a new era. Protest art and murals decorate the city, celebrating resistance and the birth of a new Bangladesh. While the path ahead is fraught with challenges, the spirit of unity and hope among the people offers a glimmer of light in a nation emerging from the shadows of a dark past.
As Bangladesh embarks on this transformative journey, the courage and resilience of its youth leaders will be crucial in shaping a future where human rights and democracy are upheld for all.
