A dark night for Bangladesh was 4 May 2013. On May 5, 2013, during Hefazat-e-Islam’s Dhaka blockade program several politically significant events took place in Bangladesh. Under the patronage of the Awami League government, bloggers engaged in religious defamation and made derogatory and objectionable remarks about Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). In protest, Hefazat-e-Islam presented a 13 point demand to the government. When the government did not meet their demands on May 5, 2013 they staged a sit in protest at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar. on this day roads and electricity lines were shut down. With the backing of Sheikh Hasina, the accused, along with police and army personnel mentioned in the complaint, allegedly carried out a massacre on innocent madrasa students and passersby. The victims were reportedly killed, and their bodies were taken away in city corporation vehicles to unknown locations. During this time, many madrasa students are said to have been victims of the killings.
Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was a top leader of Jamaat e Islami and an Islamic speaker. During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, he was accused of collaborating with the Pakistani army as a member of the Razakar force and aiding in crimes against humanity, including murder. On February 28, 2013, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for these charges. In protest of this verdict, widespread violence erupted across the country, particularly led by Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organizations.On May 5, 2013, Hefazat e Islam held a rally at Shapla Chattar, which was dispersed later that night through a security force operation. However, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was not directly involved in this incident, although it was part of the broader political unrest at that time.
chief advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus requested to the United Nations for inquiries of Sapla Chattar massacre and Delwar Hossain Sayeedi’s . Adviser Asif clarified that on his facebook post. he wrote “in 2013, regarding the Hefazat eIslam rally at Shapla Chattar and the verdict of Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi the killings occurring acro ss the country should be documented properly. In this regard, a request has been made to the United Nations by the chief advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.”
At the State Guest House Jamuna, CA was visited by Gwyn Lewis the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, and Huma Khan, the Senior Human Rights Adviser at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bangladesh. Lewis, the UN’s resident coordinator, stated that the organization was prepared to offer technical assistance and assist the Bangladeshi people in developing their ability in this area. “This is the process of healing and establishing truth,” Lewis stated. The chief adviser expressed gratitude to the UN for its fact-finding report on abuses and violations of human rights pertaining to the protests in Bangladesh in July and August of 2024. “The UN’s publication of the report makes us extremely happy. It arrived on schedule. The task was not simple,” he stated.
At the 55th session of the Human Rights Council on March 5, Resident Coordinator Lewis told the Chief Adviser that Volker T?rk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, would be briefing the member states on its findings. In the face of decreasing humanitarian supplies, the resident coordinator hoped that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ impending visit to Bangladesh would revive interest in the Rohingya problem worldwide. “We are very worried about the money situation,” she said, adding that $15 million US dollars are required each month to guarantee the Rohingyas’ access to food, on top of other necessities.
Secretary-General Guterres will visit Bangladesh from 13 to 16 March.
Source: The Business Standard
