Formal charges filed against Sheikh Hasina, 40 others over 2013 Shapla Square killings

The prosecution has submitted formal charges to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others in a crimes against humanity case over the May 5, 2013 Shapla Square crackdown on a Hefazat-e-Islam rally.

The charge sheet was filed on Monday (July 27) before the tribunal registrar by Prosecutor Zahirul Amin, accompanied by Prosecutor Marzina Raihan.

A three-member bench of ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, is scheduled to hear the formal charges.

Nine of the accused are currently in custody, including former education minister Dipu Moni, former state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, retired Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, former inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Hoque, former DIG Molla Nazrul Islam, Shahriar Kabir, former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal, and journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu.

According to the prosecution, the investigation identified 58 deaths linked to the May 5 operations, including 32 in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla.

The tribunal is expected to determine whether the formal charges will be accepted, paving the way for the trial to proceed.