Hasnat Abdullah to testify today in Abu Sayed murder case
Six of 30 accused are currently in custody.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 is scheduled to record the testimony of National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah today (9 December) in a case concerning the killing of Begum Rokeya University (BRUR) student Abu Sayed in Rangpur during the July Uprising.
Hasnat was expected to appear after 11am as the 22nd witness in the case against 30 people, including former BRUR vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid, the prosecution said.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, fixed today for his statement after completing the testimony and cross-examination of the 21st witness on 27 November, the 18th day of the trial. The prosecution has listed around 30–35 witnesses.
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Six accused are currently in custody. They are ASI Amir Hossain, former BRUR proctor Shariful Islam, constable Sujan Chandra Roy, Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury, and Rafiul Hasan Russel and Anwar Parvez.
Twenty-four other accused, including the former vice-chancellor, remain absconding.
Abu Sayed, a student of the university's English department, was shot dead on 16 July 2024 during quota reform protests in front of the campus.
His family filed a complaint on 13 January 2025, naming 25 individuals in connection with the killing.
The tribunal on 15 June gave the prosecution a one-month deadline to submit the investigation report. Investigators were permitted to interrogate four arrestees in mid-June.
On 22 July, the tribunal appointed four state defence lawyers to represent the absconding accused at government expense.
Formal trial proceedings began on 27 August with opening statements from Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.
Earlier, on 6 August, the tribunal framed charges against the 30 accused and ordered the commencement of the trial.
