Investigators of the International Crimes Tribunal questioned journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu at a safe home in connection with the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre case involving Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally in Dhaka. During interrogation, both stated that their reporting had been done under higher authority’s instructions and denied any personal responsibility. The questioning took place earlier this week, according to tribunal sources.

Officials showed them video footage of press conferences by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from around August 5, 2024, which Mozammel Babu claimed were created using artificial intelligence. The tribunal had granted permission for their interrogation on June 7 following a prosecution request and set August 10 for submission of the investigation report.

Nine accused are currently in custody, including former ministers and senior police officials, while several others, including Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, remain fugitives. The prosecution stated that 58 people were killed in the May 5, 2013 incidents across four locations, with 32 deaths in Dhaka alone.