A complaint has been filed with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) against two persons, including Meghna Group Chairman Mostafa Kamal, for allegedly promoting and supporting the attacks on Hefazat-e-Islam members in Dhaka’s Motijheel area in 2013.

Another accused is Tanvir Mustafa, managing director of the private TV channel 71 Television.

Mushfiqur Rahman, a leader of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, filed the complaint on Tuesday under sections 3(2) and 4(1)/4(2) of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act, 1973.

The duo have been accused of their role in committing genocide and violating human rights, read the complaint.

The Shapla Square protests, also known as the Siege of Dhaka, refer to the demonstrations and subsequent shootings that took place on 5-6 May, 2013, at Shapla Square in Dhaka’s Motijheel area, the main financial hub of Bangladesh.   

The protest was organised by the Islamist organisation, Hefazat-e Islam Bangladesh, blaming the then Awami League government for killing over 1,000 of its activists. However, they later mentioned 79 names of their victims.

The government responded to the protests by cracking down on the protesters using a combined force drawn from the police, Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters out of Shapla Chattar.

Following the events at Motijheel, protests in other parts of the country also broke out, during which 27 people died.