Hasina and 29 Others Ordered to Surrender in Shapla Chattar Case

Former Prime Minister Ms. Sheikh Hasina, former Army Chief General Mr. Aziz Ahmed, and former IGP Mr. Benazir Ahmed are among the thirty escapee accused that the International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, has ordered to show up before the court by September 16. In the Shapla Chattar massacre case, the three-member panel meanwhile ordered the posting of surrender notices in national daily newspapers and issued this decision.

Former ministers Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, Ms. Dipu Moni, Mr. Shamsul Haque Tuku, and Mr. Abdul Latif Siddiqui, as well as former IGP Mr. AKM Shahidul Haque, former DIG Mr. Ziaul Ahsan, Mr. Shahriar Kabir, and journalist Mr. Mozammel Haque Babu, were among the ten renowned individuals who were arrested and brought before the tribunal during the proceedings. Journalist Ms. Farzana Rupa, another accused, was unable to be present due to sickness, and any suspects who do not fulfill the September deadline may face legal action.

A total of 41 people have been accused in connection with the investigation, including 30 suspects and 11 defendants who have been arrested. The current stage of legal accountability began on July 27, when the tribunal took first notice of the allegations and issued arrest warrants for the suspects along with directions to present the detained persons.

The prosecution claims that mass killings took place during the May 5, 2013, operation that attacked the Hefazat-e-Islam assembly at Shapla Chattar. The operation was carried out by turning off communication and energy networks, and it resulted in 61 deaths with 58 verified identities. Since the case, which also includes similar violence in places like Siddhirganj on May 6, is now under judicial process, future evidence and court processes would be the only way to formally verify these claims and statements.