2013 Shapla Square protests

The 2013 Operation at Motijheel Shapla Chattar or officially Operation Secure Shapla is the term given to events on 5 and 6 May 2013, in the capital city of Dhaka , Bangladesh , encompassing a rally and protest by Hefajat-e Islam and the government's use of a combined specialized force drawn from police , the elite Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary force Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters from Shapla Chattar. Objectives of this protest were demanding a blasphemy law , execution of "atheist bloggers" who were accused of insulting Muhammad , and ban on the mixing of men and women in public. In the early hours of 6 May, the government stopped transmissions of two leaning TV channels - Diganta Television and Islamic TV - without citing any reasons, which were live telecasting the operation. Following the event in Motijheel, there were protests in other parts of the country namely Narayanganj, Hathazari and Bagerhat on Monday morning against the deaths of Hefajat members, hours after the Hefajat men were driven out of the capital’s Motijheel area. Different sources provide different figure about the casualties in this operation. Several sources reported that more than 30 were dead. Hefazat claimed thousands of their men died on this operation which has not been supported by the free press, Human Rights Watch , Odhikar 's June report, or the government. The Daily Star (Bangladesh) . 6 May 2013 . The Daily Star (Bangladesh) . 10 May 2013 . "Bangladesh clashes rage over blasphemy law" "Press note on Motijheel reflects party views instead of govt: Dudu" . The Independent . 9 May 2013 . The Daily Star . 7 May 2013 . BNS bears Hefajat brunt "Bangladesh protest violence leaves more than 30 people dead" . guardian.co.uk .

Casualties Deaths 50-61 The Shapla Square protests also known as Operation Shapla or Operation Flash Out by security forces refers to the protests, and subsequent shootings, of 5 and 6 May 2013 at Shapla Square located in the Motijheel district, the main financial area of Dhaka , Bangladesh . The protests were organized by the Islamist pressure group , Hefazat-e Islam , who were demanding the enactment of a blasphemy law . The government responded to the protests by cracking down on the protesters using a combined force drawn from the police , Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters out of Shapla Square. Following the events at Motijheel , protests in other parts of the country also broke out, during which 27 people died, although different sources report casualty numbers ranging from 20 to 61. The opposition party BNP initially claimed thousands of Hefazat activists were killed during the operation, but this was disputed by the government. Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations put the total death toll at above 50. Initial attempts to dispute the chain of events were thwarted due to the government closure of two television channels, Diganta Television and Islamic TV , which were live telecasting the operation.

Casualties Deaths 93 killed ( Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh claims) 10-12 (government claims) 53-61 (Independent sources) The Shapla Square protests , also known as the Siege of Dhaka , Operation Shapla , and Operation Flash Out by security forces, was the protests and subsequent shootings of protesters on 5 and 6 May 2013 at Shapla Square , located in the Motijheel district, the main financial area of Dhaka , Bangladesh . The protests were organized by the Islamist advocacy group , Hefazat-e Islam , who were demanding the enactment of a blasphemy law . The government responded to the protests by cracking down on the protesters using a combined force drawn from the police , Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters out of Shapla Square. Following the events at Motijheel , protests in other parts of the country also broke out, during which 27 people died, although different sources report casualty numbers ranging from 20 to 61. The opposition party BNP initially claimed thousands of Hefazat activists were killed during the operation, but this was disputed by the government. Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations put the total death toll at above 50. Initial attempts to dispute the chain of events were thwarted due to the government closure of two television channels, Diganta Television and Islamic TV , which were live telecasting the operation. "২০১৩ সালে শাপলা চত্বরে গণহত্যায় ৫৮ জন নিহত: উপ-প্রেস সচিব" . 3 May 2025 .