Rangpur-4 Member of Parliament (MP) and Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Akhter Hossen, has called for justice for the victims of the Shapla Chattar incident in Dhaka on May 5, 2013. He urged the state to officially recognize the deceased as martyrs during a discussion held at the NCP central office in Banglamotor, titled “From Shapla Massacre to July: Crimes Against Humanity, Historical Responsibility, Justice and Current Political Reality.”
Hossen criticized the Awami League government for concealing the truth about the Shapla Chattar tragedy for over a decade and preventing the victims from being commemorated. He highlighted that families of the victims were intimidated into silence to avoid persecution by the state.
Emphasizing the need for accountability, Hossen demanded that all individuals involved in the killings, whether directly or indirectly, be brought to justice. He linked the July uprising to a series of repressive actions over the years, including the Pilkhana massacre, the Shapla Chattar killings, politically motivated cases, and the suppression of student movements like the road safety campaign.
Hossen praised the involvement of madrasa students in the movement, noting their selfless participation in striving against oppressive elements in the country. He stressed the importance of democratic reforms within the state apparatus to prevent political repression against citizens and promote freedom of expression.
Additionally, Hossen underscored the importance of combating religious intolerance and extremism in Bangladesh, advocating for a society where every citizen can freely voice their opinions without fear.
During the discussion, Abdul Hannan Masud, MP from Noakhali-6 and Senior Joint Chief Coordinator of NCP, Sarwar Tusher, Joint Convener, and Maulana Ashraf Mahdi, National Ulama Alliance Convener and NCP Joint Convener, also shared their perspectives on the matter.
