Tribunal scrutinising Dipu Moni, Babu, Rupa’s role in Shapla Chattar case

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has been scrutinising the roles of former foreign minister Dipu Moni and journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa in connection with the killings during Hifazat-e-Islam’s rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, says Mohammad Aminul Islam, the tribunal’s chief prosecutor.

He also said that the tribunal is viewing the incident as a systematic crime (planned crime).

“The prosecution believes these individuals had specific and planned roles in taking the Shapla Chattar incident in a different direction. For this reason, on the next date, the tribunal may seek their production (an order to bring them before the court) for questioning, and if necessary, they may be shown arrested in this case,” the chief prosecutor told journalists at the ICT premises on Wednesday.

According to the prosecution office, a delegation from Hifazat-e-Islam met the chief prosecutor in the morning to inquire about the progress of the investigation into the Shapla Chattar case. At that time, the prosecution also asked them for further information and the identities of martyr families.

Referring to an investigative report titled “Somikaron” broadcast on Ekattor Television after the Shapla Chattar incident, the chief prosecutor said:

“To divert the widely discussed incident nationwide, journalist Farzana Rupa prepared a report using statements from some controversial people and concealed the real incident from the whole world. In this regard, the role played by Ekattor Television, Mozammel Babu, and Farzana Rupa appears to us to have been part of a systematic crime.”

He also said, “They acted according to prior planning. Their report had no truth whatsoever, and they interviewed certain highly controversial individuals. For the sake of the investigation, it is very necessary to question them.”

Regarding former foreign minister Dipu Moni’s role, Aminul said: “Dipu Moni gave an interview reiterating Sheikh Hasina’s words. She also said that they (Hifazat activists) had put colours on themselves and were lying down, and ran away after seeing the police. By giving such absurd interviews to foreign journalists, she diverted the incident in another direction. It appears that she, too, was involved in the government’s planned actions.”

He said all three would be questioned. “On the next date, we may seek their production and show them arrested in this case. Then they will be taken to a safe home for necessary questioning. If involvement is found, they will be brought to book under this case.”

In response to a question, the chief prosecutor said: “The very next day they produced an investigative report—what was the motive? There they said no casualties occurred. They used Benazir (the former IGP) and members of Jubo League and Chhatra League to say no one was killed or injured there. Sheikh Hasina also said the same thing in parliament.”

Calling this “propaganda” pre-planned, he said: “We believe they had a plan even before the incident—that such an event would be carried out and such statements would be made to mislead people. This is a joint enterprise (joint crime). They collectively did this in order to massacre Hifazat.”

Regarding the internet shutdown and electricity disconnection on the night of the Shapla Chattar operation, Aminul said: “We are bringing these matters under investigation. No one involved in the blackout that day will be spared.”

Asked whether former police officer Molla Nazrul Islam would be named as a suspect for shutting down Diganta TV and Islamic TV that same night, he said: “We are investigating who was involved in shutting down the two television channels that were broadcasting live. No one will be exempted.”

“Our investigation is under way. Please give us some time and we’ll let you know everything,” the chief prosecutor said when asked about Hefazat’s claim of disappearance of corpses.

He said that Jun 7 has been fixed as the next hearing date in the case.