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Published : 09 Apr 2026, 10:09 AM
The International Crimes Tribunal has begun delivering its verdict in the crimes against humanity case over the murder of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayed during the 2024 July Uprising.
The three-member Tribunal-2 bench led by Nozrul Islam Chowdhury began reading out its decision in the case on Thursday.
The two other members of the bench are retired district sessions judge Md Manjurul Bashid and District and Sessions Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
After the state and the accused concluded their arguments, the tribunal kept the verdict pending (CAV) on Jan 27.
On Aug 6 last year, the tribunal framed charges against 30 suspects and began the trial.
The prosecution began presenting its arguments in the case on Jan 21. They ended on Jan 25.
After the verdict date was set on Mar 5, Prosecutor SM Mainul Karim told reporters: “We hope that, through the evidence, we have been able to prove the charges in this case beyond a doubt and that is why we expect the maximum punishment for the accused.”
He said the testimonies of 25 people have been recorded on behalf of the prosecution in this case. These include eyewitnesses, experts, journalists, doctors and police personnel.
People shot alongside Sayed during the protest testified, as did MP Hasnat Abdullah, who testified in the court as a background witness.
In addition, CCTV videos of the scene and live television broadcast videos have been submitted as evidence.
Mainul said, “According to the testimony, the doctor concerned was pressured and enticed to change the postmortem report [on Sayed] and was later threatened – he mentioned this in his statement.”
In his argument, lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu, representing the arrested suspect Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Amir Hossain, Constable Sujan Chandra Roy and Anwar Parvez Apel, sought their acquittal.
He said, “No bullet wounds were found in the radiography or X-ray examination of Abu Sayed’s body. The investigating officer admitted that there was no hole in the seized part of the black T-shirt he was wearing from his neck to his waist. Therefore, it has not been proven beyond a doubt that he died due to a bullet wound.”
Although it was mentioned that six policemen were accused of using a baton charge the lawyer claimed that the investigation report was flawed as only one person was named as a suspect in the chargesheet.
Lawyer Dulu said Sayed had a stick in his hand and tried to block the police batons with it -- which the investigating officer admitted during questioning.
Pointing out that even a stick is considered a “weapon” under criminal law, he said: "The legal justification for bringing the case under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Tribunal, considering him (Abu Sayed) as an 'unarmed and peaceful civilian', will depend on the court's decision.
“However, I have no disagreement with the fact that Abu Sayed was a heroic activist and the state has recognised his heroism."
There are a total of 30 suspects in the case. Of them, 24 are absconding and six are in prison under arrest.
THE SUSPECTS
• Then Rokeya University vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid
• Then Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RMP) commissioner Moniruzzaman alias Beltu
• Then deputy commissioner of police Abu Maruf Hossain alias Titu
• Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Shah Noor Alam Patwary alias Sumon
• Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kotwali Zone) Arifuzzaman alias Jiban
• Then police inspector (unarmed) of Tajhat Police Station Rabiul Islam alias Nayan
• Sub-Inspector (SI) Bibhuti Bhushan Roy alias Madhav
• ASI (Armed) Amir Hossain
• Constable Sujan Chandra Roy
• Then Rokeya University proctor Shariful Islam
• Associate Professor of the Department of Mathematics Mashiur Rahman
• Associate Professor of the Department of Public Administration Asaduzzaman Mondal alias Asad
• Assistant Registrar Rafiul Hasan Russell
• Assistant Registrar Hafizur Rahman alias Tufan
• Section Officer Md Moniruzzaman Palash
• University branch Chhatra League President Pomel Barua
• University branch Chhatra League General Secretary Mahafuzur Rahman Shamim
• University branch Chhatra League Vice President Fazle Rabbi alias Glorious Fazle Rabbi
• University branch Chhatra League Vice President Akhtar Hossain
• University branch Chhatra League Organising Secretary Sejan Ahmed alias Arif
• Dhananjoy Kumar alias Tagor
• University branch Chhatra League Office Secretary Babul Hossain
• University branch Chhatra League Joint General Secretary Imran Chowdhury alias Akash
• University branch Chhatra League Joint General Secretary Masudul Hasan alias Masud
• University MLSS Mohammad Nurunnabi Mandal
• Security guard Nur Alam Mia
• Office Assistant cum Computer Operator Mahabubar Rahman alias Babu
• MLSS AKM Amir Hossain alias Amu
• Proctor's Office contractual employee Anwar Parvez
• Rangpur Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad President Sarwat Hossain alias Chandan
The six arrestees are ASI Amir, former Begum Rokeya University proctor Shariful, constable Sujan, Chhatra League leader Imran, Assistant Registrar Rafiul and Proctor’s Office contractor Anwar.
On Jul 16, 2024, Sayed, a student of the Department of Economics at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was killed outside the university in police fire. He was the first martyr of the July Uprising.
On that day, a video of the shooting, showing him standing with his arms outstretched as shots were fired at him was broadcast in the media, sparking outrage among students and the general public.
It spurred on the protest moment, taking it nationwide.
A “complete shutdown” programme was called across the country from the following day.
Although it imposed a curfew on Jan 19 to try and curb the protests, the Sheikh Hasina government could not control the situation, even after using repression and violence.
In the face of a student-led mass movement, the Awami League's 15 and a half years of continuous rule came to an end on Aug 5 as the government toppled and Hasina fled to India.
The interim government, which came to power afterwards, considered the attempts to suppress the July Uprising as crimes against humanity and took the initiative to try it as such at the International Crimes Tribunal.
Abu Sayed's murder case also came to the tribunal.
The report of the tribunal’s investigation revealed the involvement of 30 people in the murder of Sayed.
On Jun 24, 2025, investigation agency officials submitted the report to the office of the chief prosecutor.
On Jun 30, the tribunal took cognisance of the charges. At the same time, arrest warrants were issued against the absconding suspects.
Four lawyers were appointed at the expense of the state for the 24 absconding suspects.
On Aug 6 of that year, Tribunal-2 began the trial of this case by framing formal charges against the 30 suspects.
