ICT prosecution gets draft report

The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has received the draft report of the Investigation Agency in a case filed in connection with the Shapla Chattar massacre during a Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh rally in May 5, 2013, widely known as crackdown on a Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh rally at the capital's Shapla Chattar.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam confirmed the development in a press briefing on Sunday, saying deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Army chief Aziz Ahmed among 41 people were named as accused in the case.

"The report is now under review and will be submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal on the scheduled date of July 21," he said.

Former Ekattor TV Editor-in-Chief Mozammel Haque Babu, channel's former Chief Reporter Farzana Rupa, journalist Shahriar Kabir, as well as the then chiefs of the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the then Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner were also accused in the case.

"We are now scrutinising the report. The list of accused may be revised, with names added or dropped, after the verification process is completed. The actual perpetrators should be brought to justice," he added.

Md Aminul Islam said that they had received a list of 61 victims of the government crackdown carried out in connection with the Hefazat-e-Islam rally across the country and the tribunal's investigation agency has so far identified 58 of them.

Meanwhile, a Hefazat delegation, led by its Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdul Hamid, met the ICT chief prosecutor on Sunday morning to learn about the progress of the case.

On May 5, 2013, Hefazat launched "Dhaka Blockade" programme protesting alleged insult to the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and to press for its 13-point agenda.

On that day, thousands of religious scholars, madrasah students and supporters gathered in Dhaka and later occupied the Shapla Chattar in Motijheel.

A late-night joint forces operation was carried out when the gathering was dispersed amid gunfire, tear gas and sound grenades. Numerous casualties were reported although exact figures have long been disputed.

Despite 11 years passing since the incident, the trial has not been completed during the tenure of the Awami League government.
However, the issue resurfaced following political changes on August 5, 2024.

After the July uprising and formation of the interim government, Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi filed a complaint with the ICT naming Sheikh Hasina and several others as accused.

The complaint also includes names of former ministers, senior security officials and police chiefs.