Location Dhaka | ||
Date May 5, 2013 – May 6, 2013;
(1 day) Causes 2013 Bangladesh political violence Goals End to extrajudicial killings;
Enactment of blasphemy law;
Stopping Islamophobic content in media. Methods Sit-in, occupation of public square Result Protesters barricading the Shapla Square shot
Reports of deaths of protesters in Shapla Square
Dozens of protesters killed in May 6 morning in Narayanganj and Bagerhat;
Diganta Television and Islamic TV shut down. | ||
The Shapla Square protests or the Motijheel massacre, (also called Operation Shapla or Operation Flash Out by security forces) refers to the protests and shootings of 5 and 6 May 2013, at Shapla Square, of the Motijheel district, the main financial area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The protests were organized by the Islamist pressure group, Hefazat-e Islam, demanding a blasphemy law. The government cracked down on the protesters by using a combined force drawn from police, the Rapid Action Battalion and the paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters away from Shapla Square.
Contents
- 13 point demand
- Human Rights Watch warning
- May 5
- May 6
- May 6 morning
- Casualties
- Censorship
- Government
- Opposition
- Hefazat e Islam
- Others
- International
- Lawsuits
- References
Following the events at Motijheel, there were protests in other parts of the country that morning, which resulted in 27 deaths. Different sources provide different figure about the casualties in this operation. Depending upon sources, reported deaths ranged from 20 to 61. The opposition party BNP initially claimed thousands of Hefazat activists were killed during the operation, which was disputed by the government. Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations put the total death toll at above 50. However, rights groups have termed the events as a massacre. Any initial attempts to dispute the term of events were dismissed by the government by closing two television channels - Diganta Television and Islamic TV, which were live telecasting the operation.
13 point demand
The Hefajat-e Islam emerged as a pressure group of madrassah teachers and students in early in 2013. Shah Ahmad Shafi, rector of Hathazari Madrasah became its leader. In 2013, Hefajat-e-Islam was reactivated after the allegation that some of the protesters in the Shahbag protests, were involved in publishing of content offensive to Muslims on blogs, including the depiction of Muhammad as a pornographic character. On April 6, 2013, its supporters made a long-march to promote their 13-point charters, which included:
The government responded by saying that it had "already met" many of the group's demands. This included the arrest of four bloggers for making derogatory comments against the Muhammad.
Human Rights Watch warning
On 3 May 2013, Human Rights Watch warned the security forces in committing excesses during planned protests planned in the coming days. It also instructed the government to appoint an independent commission to investigate the killing of civilians since February, and, prosecute anyone responsible for unlawful killings and use of force. Diplomatic missions had learnt that the government had planned a major crackdown on unarmed Hefajat protesters to silence them.
May 5
Hefazat-e-Islam organized a protest on May 5 against demanding a trial of "atheist bloggers" and demanding new legislation to provide punishment for blasphemy. On 4 May 2013, Hefazat activists gathered at all six entrance routes to Dhaka; creating a blockade, from dawn on 5 May 2013. At noon, with the permission of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), activists entered Dhaka and started moving towards Baitul Mukarram Mosque in order to attend a prayer service. However activists of Hefazat-e- Islam were attacked by the ruling Awami League activists at various places using lethal arms such as pistols and guns who were using the Gulistan Road to reach Shapla Square. In return, in order to protect themselves, Hefazat activists threw bricks at them. During the clashes, two television journalists were injured, apparently by Hefazat protesters. At about 3:00 pm while Hefazat leaders were delivering speeches, the Secretary General of Awami League, Sayed Ashraful Islam, at a press conference, threatened them to leave Dhaka. On the other hand, the opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) asserted that Hefazat members had a democratic right to assemble and articulate their cause. Hefazat protesters allegedly attacked the offices of the Communist Party of Bangladesh's at Motijheel. Hefazat claimed that their workers were unarmed under police firing and attacks from Bangladesh Chhatra League activists at Gulistan, Purana Paltan and Baitul Mukarram and in fronot of the offices of the Communist Party. Hefazat supporters reportedly vandalized at least 50 vehicles and several buildings during their rally. They violently attacked others in front of the ruling party Awami League's headquarter at Paltan, Dhaka. Protesters allegedly set fire to book stores near the Baitul Mukarram mosque. However, reports of this event are disputed, and Hefazat denied burning any books. According to BNP leader MK Anwar, the Qurans were burned by Debashih, leader of the ruling party Awami League's wing, the Swechchhasebak League.
May 6
By nightfall, many of the demonstrators had left the city, but about 50,000- 70,000 had remained in Shapla Square. There they held prayers and were addressed by their leaders. At at around 2.15 am on May 6, security forces cut power supply to the area. At 2:30 a.m. about 5000 members of security forces launched an operation varyingly called "Operation Shapla" or "Operation Flash Out", to remove them. They included members of police, RAB, and BGB. At first they first used megaphones, asking the protesters to leave the area peacefully. Then, moving in from three directions, namely, Dainik Bangla route, Fakirapool and Bangladesh Bank intersection, security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound grenades to disperse the demonstrators. Most fled the area, but others hid in side streets and buildings, where they were shot down by security forces. Hefazat alleges that the bodies were then picked up in garbage trucks and dumped them outside the city. Ahmad Shafi was escorted away from a madrassa in Dhaka, and was flown to Chittagong. Police insisted he was not arrested but was leaving of his own volition.
May 6, morning
On the following morning, on May 6, the protests spread across the country. In Narayanganj, students and teachers of a local madrasa held protests and blockaded the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. In return, police fired several hundred gunshots, killing 27 people. In Hathazari Upazila, six people were shot dead by police . In Bagerhat, one Hefazat member died in a clash between protesters and police.
Casualties
According to government estimates, the number of casualties in this operation was 11, including a few law enforcement members, while the Daily Star gave as little as 5 deaths. Opposition parties initially claimed that 2000- 3000 of protesters were killed, and Hefazat claimed about 1000 deaths. Human Rights Watch disagreed with Hefazat's claims, but agrees that a massacre took place.
“(the security forces) shot live ammunition and rubber bullets into unarmed crowds, conducted sweeping arrests, and used other forms of excessive force during and after protests that began in February and continue... opened fire on crowds, often without warning..."
Some of the victims were bystanders, including shopkeepers near the Baitul Mukarram while most were Hefazat supporters, including children, killed by blow to the head or gunshot wounds. Doctors at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital confirmed that many of those dead had been shot in the head. One policeman was also attacked in reprisal. According Human Rights Watch, eyewitnesses saw 25-30 bodies that were confirmed dead. This included British journalist David Bergman, who saw 24 bodies. The Guardian reported 22 confirmed deaths. Aljazeera's investigations later found out that 14 bodies of "bearded men" with gunshot wounds, were buried after the protests at Dhaka's state-run cemetery. Human rights group Odhikar reported 61 deaths, but refused reveal the names of the victims out od security concerns for their families. The UK Home Office estimates a total of no fewer than total of 50 deaths. Many were individuals, including orphan children, were found missing, which may have attributed to the discrepancies in casualties.
Because of the differing views, Human Rights Watch called for an independent body to investigate the protest deaths. Amnesty International demanded that Bangladesh government set up an independent and impartial investigation immediately to look into police excesses.
Censorship
Diganta TV and Islamic TV channel were broadcasting live footage of the raid on Motijheel when they were forced off-air at the dawn of May 6. Diganta Television’s chief reporter M. Kamruzzaman said that around 25 plain-clothed policemen and an official from the broadcast commission had entered their studios without warning. According to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the channels' reporting on raid on Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh contained "exaggerated things, (had) given misinformation and called for breaking the law and attacking the law enforcers." Critics have alleged this an instance of the Sheikh Hasina government of using the Islamist issue to silence dissidents.
Government
In response to the allegations for massacre, police claimed the operation a “zero casualty” while 14 party leaders claimed it to be "bloodless." Bangladeshi foreign minister, Dipu Moni, downplayed reports of inaccuracy in government figures and added that "most of the people in the country doesn't even think that there was any controversy with the matter." 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.
She also blamed the attack on her arc rival Khaleda Zia, saying: “She (Khaleda) is the instigator, she is the issuer of order.” Awami League politician blamed Qamrul Islam BNP, Jamaat and ISI of backing the prostests. Hefazat was also criticized for bringing minors to the protests. Many of these children were attacked by the law enforcement agencies in the operation. The government and the media has been accused of dehumanising the protesters.
Opposition
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party compared the attacks to the Pakistani crackdown on 25 March and Jalianwala Bagh massacres. BNP leader MK Anwar called it a "disastrous killing." In response, Detective Branch police raided the houses of city BNP convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Bangladesh Jatiya Party chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partha.
Hefazat-e-Islam
While some Hefzat activists vowed "revenge" after the killings, Hefazat amir Shah Ahmad Shafi appealed for calm and called a general strike all over Bangladesh on 12 May 2013.
Others
On 10 June 2013, human rights group Odhikar, published a fact finding report claiming 61 deaths, but refused to provide any names of the victims report, citing security concerns for the families of the victims. The Ain O Shalish Kendro demanded impartial investigation "to deal with them (Hefazat-e-Islam) more strategically and responsibly."
International
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon voiced concern over the killing of unarmed protesters in Bangladesh and requested the government to sit with religious and political leaders. US amassador, Dan Mozena, has cautioned that all groups and individuals have rights to protest; insinuating that the use of brute force against unarmed protesters constitutes violations of domestic and international laws.
Lawsuits
The government filed 12 cases Hefazat-e Islam leaders for murder, vandalism, arson and destruction of properties and other charges. Hefazat denies the charges.
On 27 June, Martin F. McMahon & Associates, a US law firm, representing two US-based organisations, Human Rights and Development for Bangladesh and Bangladeshi-Americans in Greater Washington DC filed cases in the International Criminal Court against 25 Bangladeshi ministers and security officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for alleged “torture, forced disappearance, extrajudicial executions and mass killings.”. While a Brussels based Bangladeshi lawyer named Ahmed Ziauddin, who was also accused of influencing the proceedings of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal at the instruction of Bangladesh government, 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 raided the office of Odhikar and arrested its general secretary Adilur Rahman Khan. In a press briefing Police said they found the list of 61 deaths and released it to the media. In a press statement, the US Department of State expressed deep concern over the arrest and demanded his immediate release.