Shapla Chattar violence: half of violence cases scrapped due to ‘lack of evidence’ after 12 years

“The Shapla Chattar cases were politically motivated. As the allegations could not be verified, police have submitted final reports in half of them,” a public prosecutor says

A decade plus two years after the violent clashes surrounding Hifazat-e Islam’s rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka’s Motijheel, police have submitted final reports in nearly half of the related cases, citing a “lack of evidence”.

These reports were submitted to the court in August.

According to the Prosecution Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court, as many as 51 cases were lodged against Hifazat leaders and activists with Motijheel, Paltan, Ramna, Shahbagh and Jatrabari police in the aftermath of the 2013 incident.

Of these, investigations have concluded in 25 cases, with police reporting that the allegations were unsubstantiated. 24 other cases are still being looked into, while two others have been stayed by court orders.

Hifazat, a Qawmi madrasa-based organisation, was founded in 2010 to oppose the National Women Development Policy and National Education Policy. However, it gained broader recognition after staging counter-protests to the Shahbagh Movement, which demanded the maximum punishment for convicted war criminals.

On May 5, 2013, Hifazat held a rally at Shapla Chattar, with a 13-point list of demands that included punishing bloggers. After the rally, the group began a sit-in, bringing commercial activities in the area to a halt as violence and clashes escalated.

The Awami League government urged the protesters to leave, but they remained defiant.

Amid clashes with police, the protesters carried out attacks, vandalism, and arson targeting government offices, vehicles and banks in Motijheel, Paltan and surrounding areas.

Later that night, law enforcing agencies launched a joint operation to clear the area.

Human rights organisation Odhikar reported that 61 people were killed during the crackdown, while police maintained that 11 were killed in clashes throughout the day, but no one died during the operation at night.

A total of 83 cases were filed around the country against Hifazat leaders and supporters, 51 of which were filed in Dhaka.

According to the General Registration Office (GRO), the highest number of cases, 36, were lodged with Paltan Model Police Station, followed by six with Motijheel Police Station.

Sub-Inspector Rukunuzzaman from the Paltan and Motijheel prosecution departments said 22 of the 36 cases from Paltan have concluded with final reports, while 14 are still being investigated.

Of the six Motijheel cases, reports have been submitted in two, while as many others are being investigated, while two are stayed by court order.

Sub-Inspector Jinnat Ali of the Shahbagh and Ramna prosecution departments said that four cases were filed with Shahbagh police, all of which are still under investigation.

A final report has been submitted in one of the two cases in Ramna, while the other is being investigated.

Three cases were also filed with Jatrabari police, which are still being investigated, according to GRO officials.

Public Prosecutor of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court, Omar Faruq Faruqi, commented: “The Shapla Chattar cases were politically motivated. As the allegations could not be verified, police have submitted final reports in half of them.”

"Later, the court accepted the reports and settled the cases. Some cases are still under investigation. They will be settled subject to investigation."

Syed Zainul Abedin Mesbah, the lawyer of Hifazat’s Joint Secretary Mamunul Haque, said: “On that day, the Islamic scholars assembled at Shapla Chattar with just demands. But the government launched a brutal crackdown to disperse the unarmed, peaceful protestors.”

“They were arrested and falsely charged in cases. The actions taken by law-enforcing agencies under government orders were completely unjust. These cases should have been resolved after the July Uprising. We expect the interim government to take necessary steps to release the scholars from these cases.”

Two cases have been filed against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina over the alleged “mass killings” during the Shapla Chattar incident.

One was filed in Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court by Babul Sardar Chakhari, Chairman of the Bangladesh People’s Party. The court has ordered Motijheel police to investigate and submit a report.

The second case was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal by Hifazat, naming Hasina and 50 others as accused.