The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka has issued warrants for arrest of five individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on charges of crimes against humanity committed during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar in 2013.
The other four accused are former home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former inspector general of police (IGP) Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, and Gonojagoron Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker.
A three-member bench of the tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order on Wednesday after hearing a petition filed by the prosecution team of the ICT.
Meanwhile, another petition was filed by the prosecution for a production warrant against four other accused on the same charges. They are former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, former IGP Shahidul Haque, sacked major general Ziaul Ahsan and former police official Mollah Nazrul Islam.
The tribunal has ordered the jail authorities concerned to produce the four before the ICT on May 12. These four individuals are currently in jail in connection with other cases.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Mizanul Islam argued for the plea of the prosecution, while prosecutors BM Sultan Mahmud, Gazi MH Tamim, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Tarek Abdullah and Shaikh Mahadi were present at the time.
Hefazat-E-Islam filed a complaint with the office of the ICT Chief Prosecutor in this connection on November 27, 2024, against 50 suspects, including Sheikh Hasina.
According to the statistics of Odhikar, a human rights organisation, a total of 61 people died during the Awami League-led government crackdown on a rally of Hefazat-e-Islam arranged at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel on May 5 and 6, 2013.
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