Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants against 31 defendants, including Sheikh Hasina, in a crimes against humanity case over alleged killings at a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Square in Motijheel, Dhaka, on May 5, 2013. The order was issued on Monday by a three-member Tribunal-2 panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, according to a report published July 28. The case names 41 accused in total.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam presented two allegations at the hearing. The first concerned the killing of 32 people at Shapla Square on May 5, 2013. The second concerned killings on May 6 in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, including 20 people, and in other parts of the country. Prosecutors alleged that the then government directed security forces to remove unarmed Hefazat leaders and activists from Shapla Square and that police, RAB and Border Guard Bangladesh conducted a joint operation.

The report said the prosecution alleged the operation involved grenades, tear gas, shotguns and lethal weapons. It cited evidence of 32 Hefazat activists killed or missing around Shapla Square, 20 killed in Siddhirganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla. The tribunal granted the prosecution’s applications and set August 16 for the next hearing.