Hasina Named Principal Accused in Shapla Chattar Case
Collected Photo
The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has completed its investigation into the case over alleged crimes against humanity, including killings, during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka on May 5, 2013. The draft investigation report is now undergoing final legal and technical review. Once the process is complete, investigators will formally submit the report to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam told Agamir Somoy that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the principal accused in the case.
The case also names former Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandker, police officer Biplob Kumar Sarkar, Detective Branch official Harun, journalist Mozammel Babu, and several other journalists as accused. The case includes a total of about 28 to 30 accused.
Aminul Islam said investigators completed the probe after extensively reviewing witness testimony, video footage, photographs, documents, and statements from eyewitnesses. They are now awaiting the submission of the final report after completing legal and technical scrutiny.
"The tribunal is scheduled to resume judicial proceedings on July 21 after its recess. Once the prosecution receives the investigation report, it will quickly prepare the formal charges and submit them to the tribunal on the same day," he said.
The chief prosecutor said the final number of accused is expected to range between 28 and 30. Prosecutors are preparing to bring charges only against those for whom investigators have found preliminary evidence of involvement in crimes against humanity.
Earlier, at a press conference, the chief prosecutor said investigators had so far identified 58 people who were killed in connection with the Hefazat-e-Islam rally in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Cumilla, and Chattogram.
The tribunal's investigation has so far found that 32 people were killed in Dhaka, including at Shapla Chattar, on May 5, 2013, during both the day and night. Investigators have identified all 32 victims. Autopsies were conducted on some of the bodies but not all. Investigators confirmed the identities through graves, interviews with family members, and other evidence collected during the investigation.
The chief prosecutor said another 20 people were killed in Narayanganj on the following day, 6 May of 2013, and investigators have identified all of them. Five people were killed in Chattogram on the same day, while one person was killed in Cumilla.
