Wait on for chargesheet in Shapla Chattar ‘massacre’ as investigation ends

The investigation into the “murders and crimes against humanity” centring a Hifazat-e Islam rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar 13 years ago has been completed.

The draft investigation report is now being scrutinised.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said on Wednesday the chargesheet will be filed in the case once the International Crimes Tribunal, which is on vacation, reopens on Jul 21.

He said, “I will file a formal charge sheet after the report of this case is submitted as soon as the tribunal opens.”

The chief prosecutor claimed to have found evidence of charges against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, several security forces chiefs and many journalists.

On May 3, the investigators told the ICT they had found evidence that 32 people were killed during violence surrounding the 2013 rally in Motijheel.

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.

So far, six people have been arrested in the case, including former state minister for home Shamsul Hoque Tuku, former additional director general of RAB Ziaul Ahsan, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, former DIGs Molla Nazrul Islam and Abdul Jalil Mandal, and Shahriar Kabir, president of the advisory council of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.