Islamic TV to submit all footage on 2013 Shapla Chattar carnage to ICT
The Islamic TV will hand over all footage captured during the 5 May 2013 killings at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to assist in the ongoing investigation into crimes against humanity, the channel's Managing Director Barrister Shams Iskander said today (18 May).
"An investigation is underway. The chief prosecutor called us to learn about the events of that day. On that day, our cameramen and news team were present on site," he said at a press briefing on the ICT premises following a meeting with Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam.
He said, "Moreover, that very night, various personnel from RAB and law enforcement agencies of the then government broke into our office. Our broadcasting equipment, computers, editing panels, and the entire office were ransacked and shut down.
"We have shared all of this with the chief prosecutor today. He asked us to preserve all the evidence we have in our possession. We were told that the prosecution would collect them. We will cooperate with the investigation. In other words, we will hand over all video evidence in our possession to the investigation agency."
In response to a journalist's question about whether they would be made witnesses in the case, the managing director of Islamic TV said, "The prosecution will contact us regarding this matter.
"However, Islamic TV was shut down solely due to familial political vendetta. It was done by the Awami League government out of political vengeance. I see no other reason behind it."
Chief Executive Officer of Islamic TV Shahjanul Islam and Chief News Editor Rafiq Uz Zaman, among others, were present at the time.
