International Crimes Tribunal-2 has taken formal charges into account against 41 individuals and issued arrest warrants against 31, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over allegations of “genocide” during the operation to evict Hefazat-e-Islam activists at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar more than a decade ago.
The tribunal on Monday also directed the authorities to produce 10 currently detained accused at the next hearing. It has scheduled the next hearing for 16 August.
Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said two charges have been brought in the case. The first charge pertains to the killing of 32 people at Shapla Chattar on 5 May 2013, while the second concerns the killing of 20 people in Narayanganj’s Siddhirganj and other areas of the country on 6 May.
During the hearing, he described the Shapla Chattar incident as “genocide,” adding it was a “planned massacre by the then Awami League government.”
He further alleged that top officials of law enforcement agencies implemented the government’s plan and claimed that a meeting between ministers and administration prior to the operation decided on the use of grenades and lethal weapons.
Aminul said at the hearing that Hefazat-e-Islam activists, including children, were killed because of these actions.
The 10 accused currently in jail – either arrested in this case or others – are, former foreign minister Dipu Moni, former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Hoque Tuku, former Food Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan (former RAB intelligence director), former IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque, Shahriar Kabir (president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee), former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal, and journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa.
The fugitives include Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Hasan Mahmud Chowdhury, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Mrinal Kanti Das, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Omar Faruk Chowdhury, Salauddin Mahmud alias SM Zahid, and Imran H Sarker.
Former IGPs Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, Mohammad Javed Patwary, and Benazir Ahmed, as well as former RAB director general Md Mokhlesur Rahman, former BGB director general Aziz Ahmed, and Lt Gen Md Mujibur Rahman are also among the absconding accused.
Other accused are Sheikh Muhammad Maruf Hasan, Mahbub Hossain, Md Monirul Islam, Md Anwar Hossain, Ashrafuzzaman, SM Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, Biplob Kumar Sarker, Syed Nurul Islam, Md Asaduzzaman, SM Shibly Noman, and BM Forman Ali.
During a briefing, the chief prosecutor stated, “The killings were carried out in a coordinated manner by the Police, BGB, RAB, Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League under the instructions of the then government with the intent to eliminate Hefazat-e-Islam.”
He mentioned that no effective investigation took place after the incident and, despite numerous efforts, Hefazat-e-Islam did not receive justice for these killings. The case entered the judicial process after the prosecution filed formal charges with the tribunal in the morning.
The investigation agency prepared the report after reviewing evidence, video footage, photographs, various documents, and witness statements, which the prosecution then submitted following scrutiny.
The prosecution claims that the investigation has confirmed the identities of 58 people killed across various locations related to the Shapla Chattar incident. Among them, 32 died in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram, and one in Cumilla.
The complaint regarding the Shapla Chattar killings was filed with the ICT chief prosecutor by Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque, on behalf of leaders Junaid Al Habib and Mamunul Haque.
Although 21 individuals were initially named in the complaint, the number of accused increased following the investigation.
