Shapla Chattar massacre: Dipu Moni, Mozammel Babu, Farzana Rupa shown arrested
Earlier, six people, including former Inspector General of Police Shahidul Hoque, former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and Shahriar Kabir, were arrested in connection with the case.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today (14 May) ordered that former minister Dr Dipu Moni, and journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa be shown arrested in a case filed over the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre during a rally of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
The ICT-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order, sending the accused to jail in connection with the case.
Earlier on 7 May, the tribunal ordered the authorities concerned to produce them before it today, following petitions filed by the prosecution.
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On the day, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told the tribunal that during the 5 May 2013 crackdown at Shapla Chattar, Dipu Moni was serving as foreign minister and allegedly promoted internationally that law enforcers had "eliminated a group of unruly people."
He further alleged that from the beginning, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa portrayed Hefazat's grand rally as provocative in broadcast and later played a role in diverting the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and concealing information regarding the deaths.
After the hearing, the tribunal ordered that the accused be produced before it on 14 May and fixed 7 June for submission of the investigation report in the case, which is under investigation.
Earlier, six people, including former Inspector General of Police Shahidul Hoque, former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and Shahriar Kabir, were arrested in connection with the case.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam earlier alleged that Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa had attempted to deliberately divert the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and played a role in hiding information related to the deaths.
On 5 May, he said 58 people killed during the crackdown on the Hefazat rally have been identified.
Besides, involvement of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior government officials have been found, he said, adding that around 90% of the investigation into the incident has been completed and a formal report will be submitted to the tribunal by 7 June.
On 5 May 2013, Hefazat launched "Dhaka Blockade" programme protesting alleged insult to the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to press for its 13-point agenda.
On that day, thousands of religious scholars, madrasah students and supporters gathered in Dhaka and later occupied the Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel.
A late-night joint forces operation was carried out when the gathering was dispersed amid gunfire, tear gas and sound grenades. Numerous casualties were reported although exact figures have long been disputed.
Different organisations have provided varying estimates of the death toll.
Hefazat published a preliminary list of 93 victims in 2025, while human rights group Odhikar reported 61 names in 2021.
A 2014 publication titled "Shahidnama" documented 41 deaths.
Despite 13 years passing since the incident, the trial has not yet been completed.
However, the issue resurfaced following political changes on 5 August 2024.
After the July uprising and formation of the interim government, Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi filed a complaint with the ICT naming Sheikh Hasina and several others as accused.
The complaint also includes names of former ministers, senior security officials and police chiefs.
