Shapla Chattar Mass Killing: Arrest warrants for Hasina, 4 others

Grand Rally of Hefazate Islam at Shapla Chattar on May 5 2013.

Dhaka, Mar 12 - A tribunal on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and four others, including former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, in connection with a case filed over the mass killing at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka in 2013.

A three-member bench of the tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Murtaza Majumder, passed the order.

The court also issued a production warrant for four accused individuals currently in jail: former State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, former IGP Shahidul Haque, former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, and former police officer Molla Nazrul Islam.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Mizanul Islam represented the petitioner.

On November 26 last year, joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam, Maulana Mamunul Haque, filed a complaint against 50 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, with the tribunal in connection with the mass killing at Shapla Chattar in the capital's Motijheel area on May 5, 2013.

According to the complaint, Hefazat-e-Islam had placed a 13-point demand "protesting the defamation of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)" by some bloggers.

On May 5, 2013, due to the government's failure to address the demands, supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam gathered at Shapla Chattar.

From 11 pm that night until 4 am the following day, law enforcement agencies allegedly carried out mass killings of madrasah students and pedestrians, barricading the roads and cutting off electricity in the area, under the direction of Sheikh Hasina.

The case statement claims that the bodies of the victims were hidden using vehicles from the city corporation.

A case was filed against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Selim, Tareque Ahmed Siddique and Mahabub Khandakar.

Meanwhile, the tribunal sent Nayek Md Sohel Mia to jail when he was produced before the court in connection with the case filed over the piling of bodies in Ashulia, Savar. - UNB