Prothom Alo calls Aynaghor “alleged” secret torture cell, then edits
In a Nutshell:
- Prothom Alo initially referred to Aynaghor as an "alleged secret detention facility" in a report on the International Crimes Tribunal's visit to the former RAB interrogation facility.
- The outlet later removed the word "alleged" from the headline but did not publish a correction notice or explain the edit.
- The tribunal's visit formed part of an ongoing crimes against humanity case, where judges inspected the site following a prosecution request under procedural rules.
Why it Matters
The main issue is not about Prothom Alo correcting a headline, but about why it was written that way in the first place. Aynaghor has already been documented through the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, victim testimony and an ongoing International Crimes Tribunal case, where judges are now inspecting the facility as part of judicial proceedings. When news outlets recognise mistakes or lapses in editorial judgement, their journalistic responsibility is to set the record straight with readers by explaining the change and acknowledging the edit, especially when it alters how a significant issue is presented. As of publication of this article, Prothom Alo has not publicly explained the edit.
What We Think
Prothom Alo’s use of "alleged" blurred the line between a disputed question of responsibility and the established existence of a facility now being examined through judicial proceedings. The outlet later removing the word without explanation raises a bigger editorial issue: if the original wording was no longer accurate, readers deserved to know why it was changed, especially in a story involving enforced disappearances, state institutions and an ongoing tribunal case.
