Charges of genocide have been filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in connection with the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident. The case includes 26 other defendants, among them former RAB Chief Benazir Ahmed, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee President Shahriar Kabir and former Ganajagaran Manch Convenor Imran H. Sarkar.
The charges, related to the crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam protesters, have been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal’s investigative agency, which was established to address crimes against humanity from the 1971 Liberation War. The latest charge pertains to the security agencies clearance operation that occurred following the Hefazat rally at Shapla Chattar on the night of May 5, 2013.
The complaint lists Sheikh Hasina, former ministers Obaidul Quader, Rashed Khan Menon, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Hasan Mahmud, former MP Haji Selim, former advisor Salman F Rahman, former MP Shamim Osman, ex-advisor Tariq Ahmed Siddiqui, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, and Benazir Ahmed, among others. The list also includes former RAB Additional DG Ziaul Ahsan, former DB Chief Harun Or Rashid, former police officer Bipul Kumar Sarker, and others.
The complaint accuses the defendants of orchestrating a citywide blackout to stop TV broadcasts and control information flow, followed by indiscriminate shootings and the disposal of bodies to cover up the genocide and crimes against humanity.
The case was filed on behalf of Hefazat-e-Islam’s Joint Secretary General Mufti Harun Ijahar Chowdhury by lawyer Gazi M. H. Tamim at the International Crimes Tribunal’s office in Dhanmondi.
Deputy Director of the ICT’s investigative agency, Ataur Rahman, informed reporters that as soon as court reforms are completed, they will request arrest warrants through the prosecutor. The prosecution team will also undergo reforms.
On May 5, 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam, a Qawmi madrasa-based organization, staged a major demonstration at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka, presenting 13 demands including actions against bloggers accused of insulting Islam and opposing women’s rights. The area was eventually cleared by police, RAB, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces. Human rights organization Odhikar reported 61 deaths during the crackdown, leading to severe government backlash and legal action against Odhikar's top officials.
Almost a decade later, the list of casualties was published on social media, naming 61 individuals. However, Hefazat leaders claim the actual number of deaths was much higher. The recent filing of genocide charges marks a significant development in the investigation into the Shapla Chattar incident.
Lawyer Gazi Tamim stated that the genocide was committed under the orders of high-ranking RAB, police, and BGB officials. The complaint names Sheikh Hasina, her cabinet members, law enforcement officials, and several media decision-makers as defendants. It alleges that the massacre was carried out under cover of blackout and media control, with bodies disposed of and the area cleaned to erase evidence. The complaint has been recorded, and an investigation is expected to commence soon.