United News of Bangladesh

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday ordered the authorities concerned to produce journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa before it on May 14 in connection with the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre during a rally of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. The ICT-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order following petitions filed by the prosecution for issuing production warrants for them as well as former minister Dr Dipu Moni. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told the tribunal that during the May 5, 2013 crackdown at Shapla Chattar, Dipu Moni was serving as foreign minister and allegedly promoted internationally that law enforcers had “eliminated a group of unruly people.” He further alleged that from the beginning, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa portrayed Hefazat’s grand rally as provocative in broadcast and later played a role in diverting the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and concealing information regarding the deaths. After the hearing, the tribunal ordered that the accused be produced before it on May 14 and fixed June 7 for submission of the investigation report in the case, which is under investigation. So far, six people, including former Inspector General of Police Shahidul Hoque, former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and Shahriar Kabir, have been arrested in connection with the case. ICT Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam alleged that Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa had attempted to deliberately divert the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and played a role in hiding information related to the deaths. Earlier on Tuesday, he said 58 people killed during the crackdown on the Hefazt rally have been identified. Besides, involvement of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior government officials have been found, he said, adding that around 90 percent of the investigation into the incident has been completed and a formal report will be submitted to the tribunal by June 7. On May 5, 2013, Hefazat launched “Dhaka Blockade” programme protesting alleged insult to the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to press for its 13-point agenda. On that day, thousands of religious scholars, madrasah students and supporters gathered in Dhaka and later occupied the Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel. A late-night joint forces operation was carried out when the gathering was dispersed amid gunfire, tear gas and sound grenades. Numerous casualties were reported although exact figures have long been disputed. Different organisations have provided varying estimates of the death toll. Hefazat published a preliminary list of 93 victims in 2025, while human rights group Odhikar reported 61 names in 2021. A 2014 publication titled “Shahidnama” documented 41 deaths. Despite 13 years passing since the incident, the trial has not yet been completed. However, the issue resurfaced following political changes on August 5, 2024. After the July uprising and formation of the interim government, Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi filed a complaint with the ICT naming Sheikh Hasina and several others as accused. The complaint also includes names of former ministers, senior security officials and police chiefs.

A Dhaka court has placed former chief news editor of the private channel Ekattor TV, Shakil Ahmed, and his wife, former chief reporter and anchor of the TV channel, Farzana Rupa, on a five-day remand in connection with the murder case of Anwar Hossain Patwari. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiaq passed the order on Monday after the police produced the couple before the court. Ex-minister Farhad Hossain's wife arrested However, the investigating officer of the case, CID inspector Nasir Uddin Sarker, sought a five-day remand for them. Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi argued in favour of granting the remand. Ex-MP, 2 others arrested in capital’s Bhatara Anwar Hossain Patwari was shot dead on August 5 in Gol Chattar area of Mirpur. His father, Al Amin Patwari, later filed a murder case at the Mirpur Model Police Station.