Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
The prosecution of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has received an investigation report into the alleged mass killings during the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar, naming former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others as accused.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam confirmed the development on Sunday. Those named in the report include former army chief General Aziz Ahmed, former Ekattor TV editor-in-chief Mozammel Haque Babu, the channel’s former chief reporter Farzana Rupa, journalist Shahriar Kabir, as well as the then inspectors general of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner.
The ICT investigation agency has submitted the report to the prosecution, which is currently examining the findings. It is scheduled to formally place the report before the tribunal on July 21.
Meanwhile, a 10-15 member delegation of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh leaders met Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam on Sunday to inquire about the progress of the case. The delegation was led by senior Nayeb-e-Amir Abdul Hamid, known as Madhupur Pir Sahib, and included Joint Secretary General Maulana Mamunul Haque, Mufti Harun Izhar and Mufti Mir Idris.
On May 5, 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam held a mass rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka’s Motijheel with a 13-point demand. After a day of clashes and tension, police, RAB and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces carried out a late-night operation to clear the area. Allegations of mass killings during the operation are being investigated by the ICT.