Arrest warrant issued against Hasina and 5 others in Shapla Square massacre case

The International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina and Benazir Ahmed, including five others, in a custody case related to the Shapla Chattar incident.

The International Crimes Tribunal issued the warrants on Wednesday (March 12) afternoon. It also ordered the production warrants of four accused who are currently in jail in the case to be produced in their originals.

These four are 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.

On the other hand, after the tribunal issued arrest warrants against ten people in the Ashulia, Savar, burning incident, on Tuesday (March 11), Nayek Md. Sohel Mia was arrested and produced on Wednesday. Later, the tribunal ordered him to be sent to jail.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Mizanul Islam heard the case for the prosecution. The chairman and two other members of the tribunal were present. Prosecutors BM Sultan Mahmud, Gazi MH Tamim, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Tarek Abdullah and Shaikh Mahadi were present on behalf of the prosecution.

Earlier, on May 5, 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam filed a complaint against Sheikh Hasina and 50 others, alleging genocide at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel in the capital. On November 26, Hefazat-e-Islam’s central joint secretary general Maulana Mamunul Haque and central leaders of Hefazat filed this complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal. Former Prime Minister’s Security Advisor Tarek Ahmed Siddiqui, former Home Minister, former DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed, former IGP, Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Selim and others have been named as accused in this complaint.

The complaint states that more than a hundred devout Muslims were shot dead in an ambush by law enforcement forces after a peaceful rally was blacked out. Later, the then government claimed that no one was shot dead at Shapla Square. They demanded a proper investigation into the incident and punishment of the guilty.

It is worth noting that on May 5, 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam organized a rally at Shapla Square with 13-point demands. They announced a sit-in program there until their demands were met.