ICT to review shapla chattar crackdown findings

The prosecution team at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal has officially received a draft investigation report into the events surrounding the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident.

Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam confirmed on Sunday that the document had been received. The official revealed that deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Army Chief Aziz Ahmed are among 41 individuals named as accused in the case.

The legal team is currently reviewing the findings. The complete report is set for submission to the International Crimes Tribunal on the scheduled deadline of 21 July.

The list of the accused also names several high-profile figures from the media and security sectors. Among them are former Ekattor TV editor-in-chief Mozammel Haque Babu, former chief reporter Farzana Rupa, and journalist Shahriar Kabir. The case also implicates top police commanders, the head of the Rapid Action Battalion, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police chief from that period.

Earlier on Sunday, Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdul Hamid led a delegation from the faith-based group Hefazat-e-Islam to meet the chief prosecutor and seek updates on the case's progress.

The case stems from a mass demonstration on 5 May 2013, when Hefazat launched a capital blockade. The protest was organised to voice anger over the alleged insult to the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad, while also pushing for a 13-point list of demands.

Thousands of religious scholars, madrasah students, and supporters gathered in the capital, eventually occupying the central Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel.

Late that evening, a combined force of security agencies launched a sweeping operation to clear the square, utilising live rounds, tear gas, and sound grenades. Whilst countless casualties were reported, the exact number of deaths has remained highly contested for over a decade.

The judicial process saw no progress during the subsequent 11-year rule of the Awami League administration. However, the legal environment shifted completely after massive political changes on 5 August 2024.

Following the public uprising and the establishment of the current interim government, Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi filed a formal complaint with the tribunal. The complaint explicitly targeted Sheikh Hasina, alongside former cabinet ministers, senior security directors, and police chiefs.