ICT issues warrant for arrest of Hasina, 9 others over Shapla Chattar 'mass killing'

The International Crimes Tribunal has issued an arrest warrant against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and nine others over the "mass killing" at a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar on 5 May 2013.

The International Crimes Tribunal, headed by its Chairman Justice Golam Murtaza, issued the warrant today (12 March) following an appeal of the tribunal's prosecution.

Apart from Hasina, the other accused in the case include former home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, then Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarkar, former IGP Benazir Ahmed (who was DMP Commissioner at the time) and Hasan Mahmud Khandaker.

Four of the accused, including former director general of National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre Ziaul Ahsan and former deputy speaker Md Shamsul Haque Tuku, have been arrested. 

The rest are absconding.

Chief Prosecutor of ICT Mohammad Tazul Islam and Prosecutor Mizanul Islam conducted the hearing on the side of the prosecution, while Prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud, Gazi MH Tamim, Mohammad Shahidul Islam. Tarek Abdullah and Shaikh Mahdi supported the prosecution during the hearing.

Proof of Ganajagaran Mancha's involvement in the killing of Hefazat members

While talking to reporters after the hearing, Tajul said, "We have found proof that members of Ganajagaran Mancha were directly involved in the killing of Hefazat-e-Islam members.

"The number of deaths during Hefazat's movement is currently under investigation. The exact number will be known after the submission of the investigation report." 

Tajul added that the ICT has ordered the concerned authorities to submit the investigation report on 12 May 2025.

Earlier on 27 November 2024, Hefazat-e-Islam submitted a complaint to the prosecution of ICT accusing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 49 others for the Shapla Chattar incident on 5 May 2013.

On 18 August last year, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 33 others were accused of "mass killing" in a case filed over the attack on a Hefazat-e-Islam rally in Motijheel on 5 May 2013. 

Babul Sardar Chakari, chairman of the Bangladesh People's Party (BPP), filed the case on 18 August at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Zaki-Al Farabi. 

On 5 May 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam called for a gathering in Motijheel's Shapla Chattar. They later declared their intent to remain there. 

The law enforcers conducted a nighttime operation to disperse them.

Hefazat claims that many were killed in the operation that night. 

According to a report from the human rights organisation Odhikar, 61 people died that day. 

Following the publication of the report, Adilur Rahman Khan, the secretary of Odhikar, was sentenced to two years in prison by a cyber tribunal. 

Adilur Rahman Khan is currently an adviser to the interim government.

Shapla Chattar and after

The Shapla Square protests, also known was the protests and subsequent shootings of protesters on 5 and 6 May 2013 at Shapla Square, located in the Motijheel. 

It was organised by Hefazat-e Islam, who were demanding the enactment of a blasphemy law. 

Hasina's government responded to the protests through a crackdown using a combined force drawn from the police, Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh.

When the security moved in, there was a blackout in the area and nearby residents reported hearing a lot of gun fire.

Eventually, the crackdown led to protests breaking out in different parts of the country. 

But in the next five years, AL would be busy handing out an olive branch. 

In the first step of many, in 2017, the Hasina government decided to recognise Dawra degree of Qawmi madrasa as equivalent to master's degree.

The then PM made the announcement at a meeting with some 350 representatives of Qawmi madrasas at the Gono Bhaban.

The move raised many eyebrows, but for Hefazat, it was a victory. 

On 5 November 2018, in cooperation with the government under the banner of Al-Hiyatul Ulya Lil-Zami'atil Qawmiya Bangladesh, a combine of Qawmi education boards led by Hefazat chief Shah Shafi Ahmed, held an event to applaud the passing of a bill recognising the Dawra-e-Hadith degree as an equivalent of master's in Islamic studies and Arabic.

The rally was addressed by no other than Sheikh Hasina herself. 

Shafi thanked the then prime minister for the law and demanded that the government withdraw the cases filed in 2013.

Just 12 days later, Hasina was recognised as the "Mother of Qawmi".

Hefazat also backed Sheikh Hasina's government on Islamic reforms such as the Ahmadiyya issue and the Blasphemy law and other policies that were perceived as more favorable to Islamic groups.

The AL also sought the support of Islamic parties like Hefazat to consolidate its power in the 2018 general elections.