Arrest warrant issued against Hasina, 4 others over Shapla Chattar incident

The autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina was overthrown on 5 August 2024 in an uprising of the students and masses

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against five people including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed in a case lodged over the genocide that took place in the capital's Shapla Chattar area on 5 May, 2013.

The court also issued arrest warrant against former home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandaker and Imran H Sarker.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order, allowing a plea of the prosecution.

Chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam and prosecutor Mizanul Islam argued for the plea of the prosecution, while prosecutors BM Sultan Mahmud, Gazi MH Tamim, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Tarek Abdullah and Shaikh Mahadi were present at the time.

The prosecution said four more accused, former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, former IGP Shahidul Haque, Major General (sacked) Ziaul Ahsan and former police official Mollah Nazrul Islam have already been arrested and are now behind the bars.

Hefazat-E-Islam filed a complaint with the office of the ICT chief prosecutor in this connection on 27 November 2024, against 50 accused including Sheikh Hasina.