ICT orders newspaper notices for Hasina, 29 others

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday ordered newspaper notices against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 29 other fugitives, directing them to surrender to face trial in the Shapla Chattar massacre case.
The three-member ICT-2, headed by Chairman Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order in the case over the mass killing of Hefazat-e-Islam activists during a rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar in 2013.
Ten of the 41 accused, who are in custody in this and other cases, were produced before the tribunal. Controversial journalist Farzana Rupa, another accused, was not produced as she was reportedly ill.
Those produced included former ministers Dr Dipu Moni, Abdur Razzaque, Abdul Latif Siddiqui and Hasanul Haq Inu; former state minister Shamsul Haque Tuku; sacked Army officer Ziaul Ahsan; former IGPs AKM Shahidul Hoque; former DIGs Molla Nazrul Islam and Abdul Jalil Mondal; Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee’s former president Shahriar Kabir; and former Ekattor TV CEO Mozammel Babu.
On 27 July, the ICT prosecution submitted the formal chargesheet against Hasina and 40 others. The tribunal took cognisance of the charges the same day and issued arrest warrants against 31 fugitives.
The accused also include former Army chief General Aziz Ahmed and former IGPs Benazir Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, AKM Shahidul Hoque and Mohammad Javed Patwary, along with senior police and RAB officials and several former ministers and Awami League leaders.
The ICT investigation agency has so far confirmed 61 deaths during the operation, identifying 58 victims.
The charges relate to two incidents: the deaths of 32 people during the late-night operation at Shapla Chattar on 5 May 2013 and the killing of 20 people in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, on 6 May.
Hefazat called the rally on 5 May and later declared its intention to remain at the site. Law enforcers launched the nighttime operation to disperse the protesters after electricity was disconnected in the area.
Hefazat filed the complaint with the ICT Chief Prosecutor’s Office on 27 November 2024 following the political changeover.