Shapla Chattar Massacre
Investigation report submitted to prosecution, 41 accused including Sheikh Hasina and Aziz
Sheikh Hasina
The prosecution has received the investigation report into the alleged massacre during the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh rally at Shapla Chattar. The report names 41 people as accused, including fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Army Chief General Aziz.
Also named as accused are former Ekattor TV Editor in Chief Mozammel Haque Babu, the private television channel’s former Chief Reporter Farzana Rupa, and journalist Shahriar Kabir. The report also names the then chiefs of the police and the Rapid Action Battalion, as well as the then Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner.
The prosecution received the report from the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday morning.
Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam said the investigation agency has already submitted the report to the prosecution and it is currently under review. “The investigation report will be submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal on July 21 as scheduled.”
According to the chief prosecutor, the investigation has so far confirmed the deaths of 32 people in Dhaka alone. However, as the investigation is in its final stage, he said it is not yet possible to confirm the actual death toll.
Meanwhile, a delegation of 10 to 15 senior leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam visited the Office of the Chief Prosecutor to learn about the progress of the case over the alleged massacre at the organization’s Shapla Chattar rally.
The delegation, led by the organization’s Senior Nayeb-e-Amir Abdul Hamid, met with the chief prosecutor on Sunday morning. Hefazat Joint Secretary General Maulana Mamunul Haque, Mufti Mir Idris, and other leaders were also present.
Hefazat held a rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on May 5, 2013, demanding the implementation of its 13 point charter. Following a day of tension and clashes, police, the Rapid Action Battalion, and the Border Guard Bangladesh carried out a joint operation late at night to clear the area. The International Crimes Tribunal is currently investigating allegations that many people were killed during the operation.
