Dipu Moni, Journalists Babu and Rupa Produced Before ICT

Former minister Dipu Moni and journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa were produced before the tribunal on Thursday in a crimes against humanity case linked to the deaths during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel 13 years ago.

They were brought before the tribunal on Thursday morning.

Tribunal prosecutor Gazi M.H. Tamim said Dipu Moni, who was the foreign minister at the time of the May 5, 2013 operation at Shapla Chattar, had allegedly presented the incident internationally as an operation against “unruly people.”

He also alleged that journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu broadcast speeches from the Hefazat-e-Islam rally on Ekattor Television in a way investigators described as provocative. At the time, Mozammel Babu was the managing director of the channel, while Farzana Rupa served as chief reporter.

Six other accused in the case are currently in jail. They include former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, former Major General Ziaul Ahsan, former inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Haque, former deputy inspector general Mollah Nazrul Islam, writer and activist Shahriar Kabir, and former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal.

The complaint over the deaths at Shapla Chattar was filed with the tribunal by Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque on May 5, 2013. The complaint was submitted on behalf of Hefazat leaders Junaid Al Habib and Mamunul Haque. A total of 21 people have been accused in the case.