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==Later incidents== ==Later incidents==
{{Portal| |Bangladesh| |Human rights}} {{Portal| |Bangladesh| |Human rights}}
The day following the operation, protests spread across the country against the deaths of Hefajat members. In Narayanganj, students and teachers of a local Madrassa held protests after hearing the news of the operation in Shapla Chattar. To disperse the protesters, Police fired several hundred gunshots, rubber bullets and teargas shells, resulting in the death of twenty people. In Hathazari, six people were left dead when police fired teargas shells and rubber bullets on students, who were also members of Hefajot, dispersing a protest against the arrest of Shah Ahmed Shafi, the chief of Hefajat. In Bagerhat, one Hefajat member died in a clash between protesters and police.<ref name="May6_narayanganj_dailyStar" />

On 10 June, ], a human rights organization, published a report on human rights violations by the law enforcement agencies during the operation, but didn't provide any list of casualties in this report.<ref name=DS-00235>{{cite news|title=Odhikar’s Hefajat list under wraps|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/odhikars-hefajat-list-under-wraps/|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|date=August 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name=PN-000123>{{cite news|title=Odhikar Report on Hefajat Deaths: Questions aplenty|url=http://news.priyo.com/2013/09/01/odhikar-report-hefajat-deaths-questions-aplenty-84549.html|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=Pryo News|date=01/09/2013}}</ref><ref>Odhikar, 10 June 2013 http://www.odhikar.org/documents/2013/FF_Report_2013/Hefazat_e_islam/Fact%20finding_Hefazate%20Islam_English.pdf</ref> On 19 June, ], the Prime Minister of Bangladesh rejected that, stating in Parliament that On 10 June, ], a human rights organization, published a report on human rights violations by the law enforcement agencies during the operation, but didn't provide any list of casualties in this report.<ref name=DS-00235>{{cite news|title=Odhikar’s Hefajat list under wraps|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/odhikars-hefajat-list-under-wraps/|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|date=August 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name=PN-000123>{{cite news|title=Odhikar Report on Hefajat Deaths: Questions aplenty|url=http://news.priyo.com/2013/09/01/odhikar-report-hefajat-deaths-questions-aplenty-84549.html|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=Pryo News|date=01/09/2013}}</ref><ref>Odhikar, 10 June 2013 http://www.odhikar.org/documents/2013/FF_Report_2013/Hefazat_e_islam/Fact%20finding_Hefazate%20Islam_English.pdf</ref> On 19 June, ], the Prime Minister of Bangladesh rejected that, stating in Parliament that
<blockquote>"..and that day's event was fully televised, you have seen how they have rubbed red dye onto their bodies and when police came and called them they got up and ran away... we saw that dead bodies made a run for it! This kind of drama has been made there."<ref>Parliamentary speech of Sheikh Hasina 19 June 2013 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uoucAYQlQIc"</ref></blockquote> <blockquote>"..and that day's event was fully televised, you have seen how they have rubbed red dye onto their bodies and when police came and called them they got up and ran away... we saw that dead bodies made a run for it! This kind of drama has been made there."<ref>Parliamentary speech of Sheikh Hasina 19 June 2013 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uoucAYQlQIc"</ref></blockquote>

Revision as of 16:34, 22 May 2014

The 2013 Operation at Motijheel Shapla Chattar is the term given to events on May 5 and 6, 2013, in the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, encompassing a rally and protest by Hefajat-e Islam, an Islamic organization, and the government's use of more than 10,000 police and military forces the next day to suppress the protest. Much of the day's events were telecast live on national television before the government ended coverage. Several sources reported that more than 30 were dead.

Following the event in Motijheel, there were protests in other parts of the country namely Narayanganj, Hathazari and Bagerhat on Monday morning, hours after the Hefajat men were driven out of the capital’s Motijheel area. In the early hours of 6 May, the government sent in about 10,000 forces drawn from police, the elite Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive Hefazat from Shapla Chattar. Hefazat claim thousands of their men was died on this operation; that has not been supported by the free press, Human Rights Watch, Odhikar's June report, or the government.

Background

The events on May 5–6 were related to continuing unrest and protests by Hefazat-e-Islam, identified as a fundamentalist, extremist organization. They oppose changes in the country that relate to women's education and loosening restrictions against genders appearing in mixed situations in public.

A February 22, 2013 protest developed into violence. On April 6, 2013, its supporters made a long-march to promote their 13-point charter of demands, which promote a conservative view of society. The government arrested Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the opposition Amar Desh newspaper, on charges of sedition. He was tortured in prison.

Protest and events

Hefazat-e-Islam organized a protest on May 5 against what they called "atheist bloggers," and demanded new legislation to provide punishment for blasphemy. They had a 13-point list of demands that included the following:

  • execution of so called atheist bloggers;
  • demand of blasphemy law;
  • cancellation of the country's pro-women development policy;
  • ban on the mixing of men and women in public;
  • end to "shameless behavior and dresses"; and
  • rule that the Ahmadiyya sect as non-Muslim.

The Hefajat protesters assaulted two on-duty television journalists before the rally. In the major part of the violence, the protesters began by attacking and burning the Communist Party of Bangladesh's office at Motijheel. Hefajat supporters vandalized and torched at least 50 vehicles and several buildings during their rally. They attacked others in front of the ruling party Awami League's headquarter at Paltan, Dhaka. Hefajat supporters set fire to book stores near the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram.

The operation and casualties

According to government estimates, the number of casualties in this operation was 11, including a few law enforcement members. Hefazat-e-Islam claims that thousands of their members were killed; Human Rights Watch rebutted that claim. Independent free media reported total deaths over 30, and possibly up to 50.

According to different free media, the death toll rose to 22, including some law enforcement forces. A few foreign organization estimated the deaths as up to 50.

The government has filed 12 cases against top leaders of the Hefajat-e Islam for murder, vandalism, arson and destruction of properties and other charges.

Because of the differing views, Human Rights Watch called for an independent body to investigate the protest deaths, the poet and activist Farhad Mazhar said the government and media were making a cover-up and disinformation campaign.

Later incidents

The day following the operation, protests spread across the country against the deaths of Hefajat members. In Narayanganj, students and teachers of a local Madrassa held protests after hearing the news of the operation in Shapla Chattar. To disperse the protesters, Police fired several hundred gunshots, rubber bullets and teargas shells, resulting in the death of twenty people. In Hathazari, six people were left dead when police fired teargas shells and rubber bullets on students, who were also members of Hefajot, dispersing a protest against the arrest of Shah Ahmed Shafi, the chief of Hefajat. In Bagerhat, one Hefajat member died in a clash between protesters and police.

On 10 June, Odhikar, a human rights organization, published a report on human rights violations by the law enforcement agencies during the operation, but didn't provide any list of casualties in this report. On 19 June, Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh rejected that, stating in Parliament that

"..and that day's event was fully televised, you have seen how they have rubbed red dye onto their bodies and when police came and called them they got up and ran away... we saw that dead bodies made a run for it! This kind of drama has been made there."

On 27 June, a US law firm, representing two Bangladesh diaspora organisations, filed cases in the International Criminal Court against 25 Bangladeshi ministers and security officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Whether a Brussels based lawyer said- "I am not sure about the objective of it and I am sure those Washington-based organisations have some political motives. They may have been trying to create political hype since filing a complaint in the ICC does not mean proceedings of a case will start immediately"

On August 10, police arrested Adilur Rahman Khan, general secretary of Odhikar, who had published the most detailed account so far of the operation. In a press statement, the US Department of State expressed deep concern over the arrest and demanded his immediate release.

References

  1. "Controversy over Shapla Square Casualty". The Independent. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  2. "Riot police battle Islamists in Dhaka Bangladesh". BBC news. BBC. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  3. "Bangladesh protest violence leaves more than 30 people dead". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  4. "Clashes over Islam blasphemy law kill 27 in Bangladesh". MSN. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  5. ^ "27 more killed". The Daily Star. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  6. Paul, Ruma. "At least 20 dead in Islamist protests in Bangladesh". Yahoo News. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  7. BNS bears Hefajat brunt
  8. "Bangladesh clashes rage over blasphemy law"
  9. ^ "HRW rebuts genocide claim". bdnews24.com. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  10. ^ "HRW bins genocide claim by BNP, Hefazat". The Daily Sun. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  11. "Ganajagaran vows to resist Hefazat hartal". The Independent. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  12. " http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22110132 "
  13. Bangladesh Islamists rally against bloggers, BBC
  14. "Press note on Motijheel reflects party views instead of govt: Dudu". Weekend Independent. May 12, 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  15. ^ "At least 32 dead as Bangladesh Islamists demand blasphemy law". Dawn. May 6, 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  16. Rahman, Anisur (May 5, 2013). "Radical Islamists lay siege to Dhaka". Gulf News. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  17. "2 scribes beaten up by Hifazat". bdnews24.com. May 5, 2013.
  18. "Hifazat men burn CPB office". bdnews24.com. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  19. "How could they do it?". The Daily Star. May 7, 2013.
  20. "Hifazat sets vehicles on fire". bdnews24.com. May 5, 2013.
  21. "Jamaat behind AL office attack: Alamgir". bdnews24.com. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  22. "Hifazat burns Quran, Hadith in blind rage". May 6, 2013.
  23. "12 cases against Hifazat leaders". bdnews24.com. May 6, 2013.
  24. "Clashes over Bangladesh protest leave 27 dead". BBC news. BBC. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  25. "36 killed in Dhaka as Islamic militants clash with police". The telegraph. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  26. "Bangladesh: Independent Body Should Investigate Protest Deaths". New York: Human Rights Watch. May 11, 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  28. "Odhikar's Hefajat list under wraps". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). August 18, 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  29. "Odhikar Report on Hefajat Deaths: Questions aplenty". Pryo News. 01/09/2013. Retrieved 21 May 2014. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. Odhikar, 10 June 2013 http://www.odhikar.org/documents/2013/FF_Report_2013/Hefazat_e_islam/Fact%20finding_Hefazate%20Islam_English.pdf
  31. Parliamentary speech of Sheikh Hasina 19 June 2013 "https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uoucAYQlQIc"
  32. "http://www.english.rtnn.net/?/newsdetail/detail/1/1/54449"
  33. "Complaint filed at ICC against PM, 24 others". The Daily Star. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  34. Marie Harf (August 12, 2013). "Detention of Bangladeshi Human Rights Activist Adilur Rahman Khan". US Department of State. Retrieved 22 August 2013.

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