The prosecution has filed formal charges against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others in a crimes against humanity case over the killings during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka's Motijheel in 2013.
Prosecutor Zahirul Amin submitted the formal charges to the registrar of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) at around 10:45am on Monday. Prosecutor Marzina Raihan was also present.
A hearing in the case 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.
On May 5, 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh staged a rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka's Motijheel, demanding implementation of its 13-point charter.
Following a day of tensions and clashes, members of the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) carried out a joint overnight operation to clear the area.
Allegations that numerous people were killed during the operation later prompted an investigation by the International Crimes Tribunal into possible crimes against humanity.
