The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants after accepting formal charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others in a case alleging killings and crimes against humanity during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka, on May 5, 2013.
The three-member bench of ICT-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, issued the orders on Monday.
Prosecutor Moynul Karim said the investigation had uncovered sufficient evidence against the accused.
In addition to Sheikh Hasina, the charge sheet names a number of former ministers, senior Awami League leaders and former military and law enforcement officials.
Among the political figures named are former home minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir; former state minister for home affairs Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku; former information ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Dr Hasan Mahmud; Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim; former food minister Dr Abdur Razzaque; Awami League joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim; former ministers Abdul Latif Siddique, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Dr Dipu Moni and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya; former state minister Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das; former Jubo League chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury; and former lawmaker Salauddin Mahmud.
Others named in the case include Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Dr Imran H Sarker, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee president Shahriar Kabir, Ekattor TV Managing Director Mozammel Haque Babu and journalist Farzana Rupa.
The list of accused also includes former army chief General Aziz Ahmed; retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan; former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) additional director general (operations) Lieutenant General Md Mojibur Rahman; former inspectors general of police Hasan Mahmud Khandker, AKM Shahidul Hoque, Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary and Benazir Ahmed; and former RAB director general Md Mokhlesur Rahman.
Several former senior police officers have also been charged, including former deputy inspector general Harun-or-Rashid; Biplob Kumar Sarker; Syed Nurul Islam; Abdul Jalil Mondal; former additional inspectors general Sheikh Muhammad Maruf Hasan, Mahbub Hossain and Monirul Islam; former Dhaka Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Md Anwar Hossain; Ashrafulzzaman; additional deputy commissioner SM Mehedi Hasan; Md Asaduzzaman; retired additional superintendent of police SM Shibli Noman; and former Motijheel Police Station officer-in-charge BM Forman Ali.
According to the prosecution, the investigation officer submitted the inquiry report to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor after a lengthy investigation. The prosecution filed the formal charges after reviewing and verifying the evidence and findings contained in the report.
The investigation found that 58 people were killed in four locations across the country in connection with the Hefazat-e-Islam rally on 5 May 2013.
According to the investigation report, the identities of all 58 victims have been established, including 32 in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla.