FROM PAGE 4

Haque described the incident as a “massacre” and claimed the July uprising was built on the foundation laid by the events of 2013.

He made the remarks while inaugurating a photography exhibition organised by Bangladesh Khelafat Chhatra Majlis at the Nalinikanta Bhattasali Exhibition Gallery of the National Museum in Shahbagh.

He alleged that sections of the media and intellectuals validated the crackdown.

He reiterated the demand for an independent probe commission and called for punishment of those responsible. He also demanded that “responsible media outlets also be put on trial”.

Elsewhere, Hefajat-e-Islam’s Baridhara Zone held a memorial and prayer session for the May 5 victims. The prayer was led by Abdul Hamid Madhupuri, central nayeb-e-ameer of Hefajat.

The National Citizen Party also organised a discussion titled “From Shapla Mass Killing to July” at its Bangla Motor office yesterday.

At the event, NCP lawmaker Akhter Hossen demanded justice and recognition of the victims of Shapla Chattar killings as martyrs, accusing the Awami League government of a decade-long cover-up and silencing victims’ families.

He also urged strict accountability, democratic reforms, and an end to extremism.

In the afternoon, Islami Chhatra Shibir held a human chain at Shapla Chattar.

Meanwhile, International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said investigators have so far identified 58 deaths linked to the Shapla Chattar crackdown across four districts.