Court Orders Top BNP Leaders to Face Tribunal in Shapla Chattar Case
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Thursday ordered former minister Dipu Moni, along with media executives Mozammel Haque Babu and Farzana Rupa, to appear before it on May 14 to face charges in a human rights violation case. The charges are linked to the killings surrounding the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar in Dhaka in May 2013, an incident that prosecutors say resulted in the deaths of at least 58 individuals across multiple districts.
The three individuals — former Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, formerly the managing director of Ekattor Media Ltd., Mozammel Haque Babu, and Ekattor Television's former chief reporter Farzana Rupa — are currently incarcerated in connection with various other cases. Their appearance was requested by the prosecution, which sought their "production" before the tribunal.
Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam confirmed during a briefing at the tribunal's office that, given their custody, the court requested their appearance. He indicated that they might be formally arrested in this specific case on the upcoming date and subsequently transferred to a safe house for necessary interrogation as part of the ongoing investigation.
The tribunal, led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, with members Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Hoque Enam Chowdhury, set June 7 for the submission of the investigation report in the case.
Among those already named as accused in this wide-ranging case are former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Hoque Tuku, retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and former Inspector Generals of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque, Hasan Mahmud Khandker, and Benazir Ahmed. Gonojagoron Moncho spokesperson Imran H. Sarkar and former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Molla Nazrul Islam are also listed.
Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam stated that at least 58 people were killed in connection with the May 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally, with fatalities reported not only in Dhaka but also in Narayanganj, Cumilla, and Chattogram. He confirmed that the identities of all 58 victims have been successfully established.
