International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam has said the killings at Shapla Chattar in the capital’s Motijheel in May 2013 were a premeditated massacre, carried out as part of a planned operation by the then Awami League government.
He made the remarks at a briefing at the Office of the Chief Prosecutor on Monday after the tribunal accepted formal charges against 41 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The chief prosecutor said a “hellish massacre” was carried out by the then government’s police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League with the intention of eliminating Hefazat-e-Islam. He added that no investigation into the incident had been conducted after the case was filed.
Despite repeated efforts, Hefazat-e-Islam failed to secure any investigation or justice over the killings. Formal charges have now been filed against 41 people on allegations of crimes against humanity in connection with the incident.
Aminul said that after assuming office as chief prosecutor, he treated the Shapla Chattar case as a matter of the highest priority and gave special emphasis to completing the investigation swiftly and bringing those responsible to trial.
He alleged that children and Islamic scholars were indiscriminately shot dead, describing the incident as a genocide and saying such a barbaric massacre had never before occurred in the country’s history.
He said 61 deaths had been reported, of which 58 victims had been identified by name and address.
“Based on this, we have brought charges over two incidents. One concerns the killing of 32 martyrs during the horrific events at Shapla Chattar on the night of 5 May. The other concerns the killing of 20 people at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj on 6 May. All of these constituted genocide. We have brought charges against 41 accused in connection with these two incidents, as their direct involvement has been established,” he said.
Earlier during the hearing, the chief prosecutor described the Shapla Chattar incident as a genocide and alleged that it was a planned massacre by the then Awami League government.
According to him, senior law enforcement officials executed the government’s plan. He further claimed that ministers and senior administrative officials had decided at a meeting before the operation to use grenades and lethal weapons. He alleged before the court that Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists, including children, were subsequently killed as a result.
The complaint over the 5 May 2013 Shapla Chattar incident was initially filed with the International Crimes Tribunal by Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque on behalf of Hefazat leaders Junaid Al Habib and Maulana Mamunul Haque.
Although the initial complaint named 21 accused, the prosecution increased the number to 41 after completing its investigation and submitted formal charges against them.
After the hearing, the tribunal accepted the charges against the 41 accused, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and issued arrest warrants for the 31 fugitives.
The tribunal also ordered the 10 accused currently in custody to be produced before it at the next hearing, which has been fixed for 16 August.
