Former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal Seeks to Become State Witness in 2013 Shapla Chattar Mass Killing Trial

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DHAKA, BANGLADESH — In a major development at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1), former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Abdul Jalil Mondal has expressed his willingness to turn “approver” (state witness) in the high-profile crimes against humanity case involving the 2013 Shapla Chattar mass killings. The announcement was made by his legal counsel on Wednesday during a tribunal session where Mondal’s bail petition was summarily rejected.

The case, initiated in 2024, probes the structural crackdown surrounding the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013. Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam recently confirmed that investigators have formally identified 58 individuals who were killed across Dhaka, Narayanganj, Comilla, and Chittagong during the state-backed operations.

Medical Bail Plea Rejected by Tribunal

During the tribunal hearing, defense counsel Ali Haider moved a bail petition for the retired police official on acute medical grounds, stating that Mondal is suffering from severe cardiovascular disease with seven documented arterial blocks.

The tribunal bench, however, dismissed the health plea with a sharp observation, noting that judges have historically continued to hold office even with up to 17 or 18 arterial blocks, ruling that the medical argument did not constitute sufficient grounds for bail.

Following the rejection, the defense team immediately shifted strategy, placing a formal offer of full judicial cooperation before the court.

“My client has already surrendered his passport to the authorities,” defense lawyer Ali Haider stated before the tribunal. “He did not flee the country after this case was filed in 2024 and was arrested directly from his residence. He is fully prepared to act as an approver and cooperate entirely with the ongoing trial.”

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While the tribunal did not issue an immediate comment or ruling regarding Mondal’s petition to become a state witness, it maintained its order remanding him in custody.

High-Profile Co-Accused in the Homicide Case

The crimes against humanity case features a roster of top-tier officials from the ousted regime, military commanders, and law enforcement chiefs who allegedly orchestrated or executed the lethal operations.

A Career in Command: Mondal’s Strategic Roles

Abdul Jalil Mondal was arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) from the capital’s Sabujbagh area on the evening of March 30. Originally hailing from Pabna, Mondal held several of the most powerful positions within the country’s security architecture during his active service.

Crucially for the prosecution, Mondal served as the Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) directly during the May 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam demonstrations, placing him in the central command room during the operations. Beyond his tenure at the DMP, Mondal also served as the Police Commissioner of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and held the apex administrative post of Additional Director General (Administration) of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). His intimate knowledge of the operational orders issued during the crackdown makes his petition to turn state witness a potentially critical turning point for the ICT trial.