Dipu Moni, Farzana Rupa among three shown arrested in Shapla Chattar case

PNN News Desk: Dhaka

The International Crimes Tribunal has formally shown three individuals—including former minister Dipu Moni, former Managing Director of Ekattor Media Limited Mozammel Haque Babu, and former chief reporter of Ekattor Television Farzana Rupa—as arrested in a case of crimes against humanity related to killings during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel.

The order was issued on Thursday at International Crimes Tribunal-1. The bench was headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, along with Justices Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

The court scheduled the next hearing of the case for June 7. The investigation report is also expected to be submitted on the same date.

Earlier, on May 7, the prosecution applied to produce the three accused before the tribunal. The court granted the request, and they were produced before the tribunal on Thursday. They were then formally shown as arrested.

Other accused in the case include former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former State Minister for Home Shamsul Haq, former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, former Inspector General of Police A K M Shahidul Haque, Hasan Mahmud Khondaker, Benazir Ahmed, and Gana Jagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H. Sarker, among several others.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam stated that investigations have so far found that at least 58 people were killed during clashes and operations surrounding the Shapla Chattar Hefazat-e-Islam gathering in May 2013 in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Cumilla, and Chattogram. He also said the identities of the deceased have been confirmed.