The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has sent former minister Dipu Moni and journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa to jail after formally showing them arrested in a crimes against humanity case linked to the deaths during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on 5 May, 2013.
The tribunal passed the order following an application by the prosecution.
Prosecutor Abdus Sattar Paloan conducted the hearing on behalf of the state, after which the court directed that the investigation report for the case be submitted by 7 June.
According to prosecution sources, investigators have so far confirmed the identities of 58 people killed in incidents surrounding the Hefazat rally.
Among them, 32 deaths were reported in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla.
The prosecution said former prime minister Sheikh Hasina would be made the prime accused in the case, which remains under investigation.
The prosecution has alleged that Mozammel Babu, the former CEO of Ekattor TV, and Farzana Rupa played a “unique role” in attempting to divert the narrative and conceal the truth regarding the killings that took place in Motijheel on 5 May, 2013.
According to the state’s counsel, the duo used an investigative report titled ‘Somikoron’, aired on Ekattor Television shortly after the incident, to spread pre-planned and misleading information.
The report reportedly suggested that no casualties had occurred at Shapla Chattar, a claim the prosecution describes as a complete denial of the truth.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam questioned the motive and the unusual speed with which the ‘Somikoron’ report was produced and broadcasted.
He asserted that the effort to hide information regarding the deaths was part of a “systematic attack” and was implemented according to a prior methodically designed plan.
This case follows a complaint lodged by Hefajat-e-Islam leader Azizul Huq on behalf of Junaid Al Habib and Maulana Mamunul Haque. A total of 21 individuals have been accused in the case.
Aside from the three individuals sent to jail on Thursday, six other accused are currently in custody- former state minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Huq Tuku, Major General (Retd) Ziaul Ahsan, former inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque, former DIG Mollah Nazrul Islam, president of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir, and former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal.
Other high-profile names listed in the case include Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former ministers Rashed Khan Menon and Hasan Mahmud, former Dhaka South Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former PM advisers Salman F Rahman and Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, and former army chief Aziz Ahmed, among others.
