The Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Aminul Islam, has announced that the identities of 58 individuals killed during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar on 5 May 2013, have been confirmed.
He said 32 of the victims were from Dhaka, 20 from Narayanganj, five from Chattogram, and one from Cumilla. He made the remarks to journalists at his office on Tuesday, 5 May.
He further confirmed that the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, will be made the primary accused in the case.
The Chief Prosecutor said post-mortem reports have been conducted for some of those killed at Shapla Chattar, while many have not undergone post-mortem examinations. However, during the investigation, officials visited graves and spoke with family members.
He said the names of the accused cannot be disclosed at this stage in the interest of the investigation, but the number of accused will not be fewer than 30. Several suspects have already been arrested.
He added that individuals ranging from the former head of government to the then police chief, police commissioners, and many members of the Awami League were involved in the incident. Around 90 percent of the investigation has been completed, and the report is expected to be submitted by 7 June.
Responding to a question about former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, Aminul Islam said he was present at the scene and involved in the incident.
Six accused have been arrested in the case. They are former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, former Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque, former deputy inspector general Mollah Nazrul Islam, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Advisory Council President Shahriar Kabir, and former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal.
The complaint over the Shapla Chattar killings was filed with the tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor by Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque on behalf of Hefazat leaders Junaid Al Habib and Maulana Mamunul Haque. A total of 21 people were named as accused in the case.
The list of accused also includes Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former minister Rashed Khan Menon, former Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former minister Hasan Mahmud, former Member of Parliament Haji Selim, former prime minister’s adviser Salman F Rahman, former Narayanganj MP Shamim Osman, former prime minister’s adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (DB) Harun Or Rashid, former DMP deputy commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker, Professor Muntasir Mamun, former International Crimes Tribunal prosecutor Turin Afroze, Ganajagaran Moncho Convener Imran H Sarker, former Ekattor TV CEO Mozammel Haque Babu, former Somoy TV managing director and CEO Ahmed Zobayer, ABNews24.com Editor Subhash Singha Roy, former prime minister’s press secretary Naimul Islam Khan, former Army Chief Aziz Ahmed, and NSI official Md Monjur Ahmed.
