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Published : 09 Apr 2026, 01:25 PM
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has sentenced two policemen to death and three other policemen to life in prison over the murder of Abu Sayed, who was martyred and became a symbol for the July Uprising.
The three-member Tribunal-2 bench led by Nozrul Islam Chowdhury delivered its verdict in the case on Thursday afternoon.
The two other members of the bench are retired district sessions judge Md Manjurul Bashid and District and Sessions Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
The death-row convicts in the case are former assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Amir Hossain, and former constable Sujan Chandra Roy, both of whom were brought to court for the verdict.
The three who received life in prison are then assistant commissioner of police (Kotwali Zone) Arifuzzaman alias Jiban, then police inspector (unarmed) of Tajhat Police Station Rabiul Islam alias Nayan, and Sub-Inspector (SI) Bibhuti Bhushan Roy alias Madhav.
A total of 30 suspects had been accused in the case. The others received jail sentences of different lengths.
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.
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.
