BanglaPress Desk: A hearing is scheduled for today regarding the framing of formal charges against 41 individuals—including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—in a case involving crimes against humanity. The case pertains to incidents that occurred during a rally organized by Hefazat-e-Islam at Shapla Chattar in the capital’s Motijheel area.
The hearing is set to take place before a three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by its chairman, Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.
According to the prosecution, the hearing for the framing of formal charges was originally scheduled for November 1. However, it could not proceed as one of the 11 arrested defendants, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque, was unable to appear before the tribunal due to illness. Consequently, the tribunal adjourned the hearing to November 12.
Other defendants arrested in the case—alongside Shahidul Haque—include Hasanul Haq Inu, president of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) and former Information Minister; Shamsul Haque Tuku, former State Minister for Home Affairs; Dr. Abdur Razzaque, former Food Minister; Dr. Dipu Moni, former minister; Abdul Latif Siddique, former minister; Major General (Retd.) Ziaul Ahsan; former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal; Shahriar Kabir, president of the 'Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee'; Mozammel Haque Babu, Managing Director of 71 TV; and journalist Farzana Rupa.
Among the defendants who remain at large—including Sheikh Hasina—are Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former Home Minister; Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, a member of the Awami League Presidium; Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Joint General Secretary of the Awami League; Dr. Hasan Mahmud, former Information Minister; AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Joint General Secretary of the Awami League; Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, former State Minister; Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary of the Awami League; Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, former minister; Omar Faruk Chowdhury, former chairman of Jubo League; Salauddin Mahmud, former Member of Parliament; Dr. Imran H. Sarkar, convener and spokesperson of the 'Gonojagoron Mancha'; former IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandaker; and former IGP Dr. [Name incomplete in source text]. Mohammad Javed Patwary; former IGP Benazir Ahmed; then-RAB Director General Md. Mokhlesur Rahman; former Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed; then-RAB Additional Director General (Operations) Lieutenant General Md. Mujibur Rahman; former Additional IGP Sheikh Muhammad Maruf Hasan; former Additional IGP (Special Branch) Mahbub Hossain; former Additional IGP (Special Branch) Monirul Islam; then-DMP Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters and Administration) Md. Anwar Hossain; then-DMP Deputy Commissioner (Traffic-South) Ashrafuzzaman; then-DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Motijheel Zone) SM Mehedi Hasan; former DIG Harun-or-Rashid; former DIG Biplab Kumar Sarkar; former DIG Syed Nurul Islam; then-DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Motijheel Division) Md. Asaduzzaman; retired Additional Superintendent of Police SM Shibli Noman; and the then-Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Motijheel Police Station, BM Farman Ali.
Previously, on September 3, Tribunal-2 ordered the publication of a notice in two national daily newspapers, directing 30 individuals—including Sheikh Hasina—to surrender. Law enforcement personnel submitted a Non-Execution Report (NER) to the prosecution, stating that the individuals could not be located at either their permanent or temporary addresses. As they failed to surrender by September 16, the 30 accused were declared fugitives, and an order was issued to appoint legal counsel for them at government expense.
On July 27, Tribunal-2 took cognizance of the formal charges filed by the prosecution against 41 accused. Simultaneously, the tribunal issued arrest warrants for those who had absconded and ordered the production of those already in custody.
The case involves two sets of charges: the first concerns the killing of 32 people at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka on May 5, 2013; the second pertains to mass killings that took place in various parts of the country, including the death of 20 people in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, on May 6.
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