The prosecution has submitted formal charges to the International Crimes Tribunal against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others over the deaths during a crackdown on a Hifazat-e Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in 2013.
Prosecutor Moynul Karim confirmed the development to bdnews24.com, saying the charges are due to be heard by ICT-2.
Others named in the case include former army chief retired General Aziz Ahmed, former inspectors general of police Benazir Ahmed and Shahidul Haque, and former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku.
Earlier, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam told reporters that investigators had found evidence of 58 killings linked to operations carried out on May 5 and 6, 2013, during Hifazat-e Islam gatherings at Shapla Chattar and in four other districts.
Hifazat had called the May 5, 2013 rally in Motijheel, demanding punishment for bloggers in response to the Shahbagh movement.
The gathering was followed by widespread violence across the area before security forces carried out a joint operation overnight to clear protesters from Shapla Chattar.
After the Awami League government was toppled during the July Uprising, a complaint over the incident was filed with the tribunal on August 20, 2024.
On May 3, the tribunal's investigation agency reported evidence of 32 deaths linked to the operation.
Among those now in custody in the case are former state minister Tuku, former IGP AKM Shahidul Haque, former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) additional director general Ziaul Ahsan, former additional police commissioner Abdul Jalil Mondal and writer Shahriar Kabir.
Former minister Dipu Moni and journalists Mozammel Haque Babu and Farzana Rupa were also shown arrested in the case on May 14.