On July 10, 2013 a letter was issued from the Ministry of Information, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka signed by the Personal Secretary, Mohammad Shahidul Huq Bhuiyan of the Honourable Minister Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu requesting a copy of the fact finding report prepared by Odhikar on the incident of human rights violations by the government on May 5, 2013 at the assembly of Hefazate Islam Bangladesh at Shapla Square, Motijheel, Dhaka; along with the names of 61 victims, the names of their fathers and mothers and their addresses.
Although it was stated on behalf of the government that nobody died during the operation carried out by the law enforcement agencies on May 5, 2013, it was learnt from various sources that people did die on the night of the operation. Odhikar conducted a fact finding mission into the incident from May 6. After a series of investigations, Odhikar was primarily able to collect the particulars of 61 deceased people and released its fact finding report on June 10, 2013.
We have already posted the hard copy of our reply to the Ministry of Information. Please find the attached letter from the Information Ministry and the response from Odhikar for your information.
To see the fact finding report ‘Assembly of Hefazate Islam Bangladesh and Human Rights Violations’, which was released on June 10, 2013 please click on the link below
Reply to the Information Minister
Reply to the Information Minister_English (full text in English, PDF)
Reply to the Information Minister_Bangla (full text in Bangla, PDF)
Letter from the Ministry of Information
Letter from the Ministry of Information_English_Translated (full text in English, PDF)
Letter from Information Ministry to Odhikar (full text in Bangla, PDF)
