Shapla Chattar Case: Hasina, 29 Others Ordered to Surrender

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has ordered former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former army chief General Aziz Ahmed, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed and 27 others to surrender to the tribunal by September 16 in the Shapla Chattar case.

The tribunal has also directed that a notice be published in newspapers asking the 30 fugitives to surrender.

A three-member bench of ICT-2, headed by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, issued the order on Thursday (September 3).

Earlier in the day, 10 accused who are currently in custody were produced before the tribunal. They include former ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Dipu Moni, former state minister Shamsul Haque Tuku, former IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque, former NTMC chief Maj Gen (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, and writer Shahriar Kabir.

Journalist Farzana Rupa, another accused in the case, was not produced before the tribunal because of illness.

On July 27, ICT-2 took cognisance of formal charges against 41 accused in the case and issued arrest warrants against the fugitives. The case concerns alleged crimes against humanity linked to the crackdown on the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013, as well as alleged killings in other parts of the country.

According to the prosecution, the accused conspired to carry out the crackdown after cutting electricity and internet connections in the area. The prosecution has identified 58 deaths linked to the May 5-6 violence.

The other accused currently in custody include former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, former state minister Shamsul Haque Tuku, former IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque, former DMP additional commissioner Abdul Jalil Mondal and journalist Mozammel Haque Babu.

The tribunal’s latest order paves the way for further proceedings against the 30 accused who remain at large.