A Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and four others for their alleged involvement in the killings during the 2013 dispersal of an Islamist demonstration in Dhaka’s Motijheel area.
The order was passed by a three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Murtaza Majumder, following a hearing on a complaint filed last year by Mamunul Haque, secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam.
Haque lodged the complaint with the tribunal on November 26, naming 50 individuals, including politicians, former ministers, and security officials, more than three months after Hasina was ousted from power in a mass uprising. Since leaving the country on August 5, she has been residing in India.
The complaint accuses former officials of orchestrating a mass killing of Islamist activists during the government’s handling of the May 5, 2013, protests at Shapla Chattar.
A production warrant was also issued for four accused individuals currently in jail: former state minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, former IGP Shahidul Haque, former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, and former police officer Molla Nazrul Islam.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Mizanul Islam represented the petitioner.
According to the complaint, Hefazat-e-Islam had submitted a 13-point demand condemning the alleged defamation of Islam and Prophet Muhammad by certain bloggers. Following the government’s failure to address these demands, Hefazat-e-Islam supporters gathered at Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013.
From 11 PM that night until 4 AM the following morning, law enforcement agencies allegedly carried out mass killings of madrasa students and bystanders, blocking roads and cutting off electricity in the area under Hasina’s directive, the complaint said.
The case statement further claims that city corporation vehicles were used to conceal the victims’ bodies.
The case also names former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, Awami League leader Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Tareque Ahmed Siddique, and Mahabub Khandakar.