ICT summons Dipu Moni and two journalists in Shapla Chattar case

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered authorities to produce journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa before the court on 14 May in connection with the investigation into the 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally in Dhaka.

The order was issued on Thursday by ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, following prosecution petitions seeking production warrants for the two journalists and former minister Dr Dipu Moni.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told the tribunal that Dr Dipu Moni, who was foreign minister at the time of the incident, had allegedly promoted the narrative internationally that law enforcement agencies had “eliminated a group of unruly people” during the operation at Shapla Chattar on 5 May 2013.

He also alleged that Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa portrayed Hefazat’s mass rally as provocative in television broadcasts and later attempted to divert attention away from the killings while concealing information about the deaths.

Following the hearing, the tribunal directed that the accused be produced before the court on 14 May and set 7 June as the deadline for submission of the investigation report.

So far, six people have been arrested in connection with the case. They include former Inspector General of Police Shahidul Hoque; former National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre director, dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan; and writer Shahriar Kabir.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam alleged earlier this week that the two journalists had deliberately tried to shift the narrative surrounding the Shapla Chattar killings and played a role in hiding information related to the deaths.

Speaking on Tuesday, he said investigators had identified 58 people killed during the crackdown. He also claimed evidence had been found linking former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior government officials to the incident. According to him, around 90% of the investigation has been completed, and a formal report will be submitted to the tribunal by 7 June.

The events under investigation date back to 5 May 2013, when Hefazat-e-Islam launched its “Dhaka Blockade” programme in protest over what it described as insults to the Holy Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), while also pressing its 13-point demand charter.

Thousands of religious scholars, madrasa students and supporters gathered in the capital before occupying the Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel. Late that night, joint security forces moved to disperse the gathering using gunfire, tear gas and sound grenades.

Numerous casualties were reported, although the exact death toll has remained disputed for years. Different organisations have published varying figures. Hefazat released a preliminary list of 93 victims in 2025, while rights group Odhikar documented 61 names in 2021. A 2014 publication titled “Shahidnama” recorded 41 deaths.

Thirteen years after the incident, no trial has yet been completed. However, the case regained national attention following political developments after 5 August 2024.

After the July uprising and the formation of the interim government, Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi filed a complaint with the ICT against Sheikh Hasina and several others. The complaint also named former ministers, senior security officials and former police chiefs.