The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Monday took cognizance of formal charges against 41 people, including fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former army chief Gen Aziz Ahmed, in a case over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the May 5, 2013, crackdown on a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam, also issued arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina and the other fugitive accused after hearing the prosecution's application.
Among those for whom arrest warrants were issued are former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former army chief Gen Aziz Ahmed and former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
Nine accused are currently in custody in the case. They are former minister Dr Dipu Moni, former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Hoque Tuku, retired Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, former deputy inspector general (DIG) Molla Nazrul Islam, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee advisory council chairman Shahriar Kabir, former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondol, and journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu.
Prosecutors Zahirul Amin, Moinul Karim and Marjina Raihan represented the prosecution during the submission of the formal charges.
The charge sheet also names former home minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former information ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Dr Hasan Mahmud, former food minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Awami League leaders Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former ministers Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Dr Dipu Moni, former Jubo League chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury, former MP Salauddin Mahmud, Jana Jagaran Mancha spokesperson Dr Imran H Sarker, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee president Shahriar Kabir, 71 TV Managing Director Mozammel Haque Babu, journalist Farzana Rupa, several former police chiefs and senior police officials, as well as former RAB and army officers.
On May 5, 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh held a rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel to press its 13-point demands. Following daylong tensions and clashes, police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) carried out a joint operation overnight to clear the area.
The International Crimes Tribunal later launched an investigation into allegations that many people were killed during the operation.