Hefazat-e-Islam’s Joint Secretary General Allama Mamunul Haque has claimed that there was a state-level attempt to hide the bodies of those killed during the group’s mass rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka on May 5, 2013. He made the statement on Sunday while speaking to journalists at the office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal. A Hefazat delegation visited the tribunal to learn about the progress of the investigation report on alleged crimes against humanity related to the Shapla Chattar incident.

Mamunul Haque said that only the information of identified victims was included in the investigation, but many bodies were never found. He alleged that the disappearance of those bodies was part of a state effort to conceal the deaths. According to him, people from all walks of life, including students, workers, and members of various opposition parties, were among the victims because the movement had a universal character.

He added that Hefazat had reviewed a draft of the investigation report and found some issues requiring correction. The group plans to submit its observations to the prosecution within a few days.