The prosecution on Monday filed formal charges against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others in a crimes against humanity case over the deaths that occurred during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka’s Motijheel in 2013.
Prosecutor Zahirul Amin submitted the formal charge sheet to the registrar of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) at around 10:45 am. Prosecutor Marzina Raihan was also present during the submission.
A hearing on the charges is scheduled to be held later in the day before a three-member bench of ICT-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder.
According to prosecution sources, the investigation report names 41 accused, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former army chief General Aziz Ahmed, journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa, and writer Shahriar Kabir.
The case stems from the events of May 5, 2013, when Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh held a rally at Shapla Chattar demanding the implementation of its 13-point charter.
Following a day of tensions and clashes, members of the Bangladesh Police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) conducted a joint overnight operation to clear the area.
Subsequent allegations that numerous people were killed during the operation led the International Crimes Tribunal to investigate the incident for alleged crimes against humanity.
The tribunal is expected to consider the prosecution’s formal charges during the scheduled hearing before determining the next course of proceedings.
