ICT prosecution receives draft probe report on 2013 Shapla Chattar case
Former Ekattor TV Editor-in-Chief Mozammel Haque Babu, channel's former Chief Reporter Farzana Rupa, journalist Shahriar Kabir, as well as the then chiefs of the police and the RAB, and the then DMP commissioner were also accused in the case.
The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has received the draft investigation report in the case over the alleged killings and crimes against humanity linked to the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on 5 May 2013.
Speaking to journalists at his office at the tribunal today (19 July), Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam said the prosecution is reviewing the draft but declined to disclose its contents before the final report is submitted.
Meanwhile, Hefazat leaders, including Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdul Hamid and Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque, met the prosecution team to discuss the case's progress.
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Aminul said the meeting aimed to ensure no accused was left out of the investigation. He confirmed the draft names of several individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the former police chief and the former BGB chief, but withheld the full list, citing the interests of the investigation.
He expressed hope that formal charges could be filed when the tribunal resumes proceedings on 21 July.
Describing the Shapla Chattar incident as one of the most appropriate cases under the tribunal's jurisdiction, Aminul alleged that it involved "systematic, widespread and targeted killings". He claimed there had been a state-backed plan to dismantle Hefazat through coordinated operations in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.
Responding to questions over police investigating fellow police officers, Aminul said the law assigns investigative responsibility to the police and insisted there was no scope for bias, noting that several police officers are expected to be named as accused as well.
Investigating officer Shahidullah Chowdhury said the probe had faced no pressure to include or exclude anyone and that prosecutors had worked closely with investigators throughout the investigation.
Hefazat held the rally on 5 May 2013, demanding "punishment for atheist bloggers" following the Shahbagh movement. Violent clashes erupted across Motijheel before a joint security operation cleared the area that night.
The tribunal began examining the case after a complaint was filed on 20 August 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government. On 3 May this year, investigators reported that 32 people were killed in the incident, while the chief prosecutor later said 28 to 30 people could be charged.
Several people have already been arrested in the case, including former State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, former inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Haque, former additional director general of RAB Ziaul Ahsan, former deputy inspectors general Mollah Nazrul Islam and Abdul Jalil Mondal, and Shahriar Kabir, president of the advisory council of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.
Former minister Dipu Moni and journalists Mozammel Haque Babu and Farzana Rupa were also shown arrested in the case on 14 May this year.
