Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun is set to be indicted in a case involving alleged crimes against humanity linked to the 2013 Hifazat-e Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka.
Questions have also been raised over his alleged involvement in the incident, with the prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal indicating the possibility of naming him as an accused in the case.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam said the former police chief would be formally named as an accused in the case.
He added that the investigation had uncovered the involvement of multiple officials, including Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, though he declined to disclose the full list of suspects at that stage.
“We cannot disclose at this stage who will be formally named as accused. However, we are finding involvement of several officials, including the then IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. We expect to receive the complete investigation report within the next few days. The investigation agency is actively working on the matter,” he said.
Al-Mamun had previously been implicated in a separate case concerning crimes against humanity related to the July uprising.
On November 17, 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in that case, where Al-Mamun was among the co-accused. He later turned approver (state witness), providing detailed testimony and assisting the prosecution in building its case.
In its judgment, the tribunal observed that Al-Mamun, as the then highest-ranking official in the police force, had a significant role in the commission of the offences, which ordinarily warranted the maximum penalty.
However, it also took note of his confession before the court and his extensive cooperation with the prosecution as an approver, during which he provided comprehensive details of the case.
Considering his cooperation with the investigation and trial proceedings, the tribunal commuted his sentence from death to five years’ imprisonment, describing the reduced sentence as “lenient” in view of his assistance to the prosecution.
Prosecutors investigating alleged crimes against humanity linked to the May 5, 2013 Shapla Chattar incident at Motijheel in Dhaka, associated with a Hefazat-e-Islam rally, have reportedly found evidence pointing to the involvement of former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Meanwhile, sources have claimed that the former police chief was serving on a United Nations mission at the time of the incident, raising questions over his potential inclusion as an accused.
However, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam told Dhaka Tribune that it has not yet been confirmed whether the former IGP was abroad on UN assignment during the relevant period.
He further stated that even if the former police chief was outside the country at the time, legal responsibility could still be examined under the principle of superior or command responsibility, if it is established that he issued directives to subordinate forces from abroad.
Authorities said the matter will be assessed in detail as the investigation continues and the final report is prepared.