Home
+
Published : 03 May 2026, 10:27 PM
Investigators at the International Crimes Tribunal have found evidence that 32 people were killed during violence surrounding a Hifazat-e Islam rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar 13 years ago.
Disclosing the findings on Sunday, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said preparations were under way to submit the investigation report in the crimes against humanity case.
“We have already obtained a list of 32 individuals who were killed at Shapla Chattar,” he said, adding: “Evidence of killings has also been found in Narayanganj and Chattogram.”
He said those responsible -- including senior officials of the then government or police, as well as individuals who financed the incidents -- would be named suspects in the case.
“About 90 percent of the investigation into the Shapla Chattar incident has been completed. The remaining work will be finished soon,” he added.
Aminul noted that once the probe report is received, it will be scrutinised and subsequently submitted to the tribunal as a formal charge.
Hifazat, a Qawmi madrasa-based organisation, was formed in 2010 to oppose the National Women Development Policy and the Education Policy.
It rose to prominence in 2013 after countering the Shahbagh movement demanding maximum punishment for war criminals.
On May 5, 2013, Hifazat called a rally in Motijheel demanding punishment for bloggers opposing the Shahbagh movement, which spiralled into widespread violence.
A joint operation later that night cleared the area.
Human rights group Odhikar claimed 61 people were killed in the crackdown, while police said no one died during the night operation and that 11 were killed in clashes during the day.
Following the Awami League government’s fall in the July Uprising, a complaint concerning the Shapla Chattar incident was filed with the tribunal on Aug 20, 2024.
The list of suspects in this case includes ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, former additional director general of RAB Ziaul Ahsan, and former additional commissioner (DB) of DMP Harunor Rashid, among many others.
So far, six people have been arrested in the case, including former state minister for home Shamsul Hoque Tuku, Ziaul, Shahidul, former DIGs Molla Nazrul Islam and Abdul Jalil Mandal, and Shahriar Kabir, president of the advisory council of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.
They were produced before the tribunal on Apr 5. At the same time, the prosecution applied for a two-month extension to submit the investigation report.
The judicial panel led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumdar fixed Jun 7 for the submission of the report.
