‘Shapla Chattar killings to be tried’

The trial of the crimes against humanity case filed over the alleged massacre during Hefazat-e-Islam’s grand rally at Shapla Chattar in the capital on 5 May, 2013, will be completed swiftly on a priority basis, said International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam.

He made the statement at a press conference held at his office on Thursday.
The chief prosecutor said 11 accused in the case are currently in jail, while 30 others are absconding.

Arrest warrants had been issued against them, but they could not be found even after law enforcement authorities visited their respective addresses based on the warrants.

As the next step, the tribunal has ordered the publication of notices in two national daily newspapers. The trial proceedings will begin after these formalities are completed, he said.

Saying that the Shapla Chattar case is being given priority, Aminul Islam said, “We give priority to all cases in the trial process. However, we will try to complete the Shapla Chattar massacre case quickly on a priority basis.”

He said, “On 5 May, 2013, they indiscriminately shot and killed 61 religious scholars and clerics. The previous Awami League government tried to divert the issue by spreading various kinds of misinformation about the trial.”

“But religious people had long wanted justice in the Shapla Chattar killings, and there is also a public demand for the trial.

Respecting this demand of the people, we will try to complete the trial swiftly, InshaAllah,” Aminul Islam added.