Abu Sayed murder case: ICT indicts 30 accused, fixes 27 Aug to start trial
The charges were read out to six of the 30 accused, who are currently in custody, during today's hearing, and they were asked how they would like to plead. They pleaded not guilty.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has framed charges and ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against 30 individuals in connection with the murder of Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, during last year's July Uprising in Rangpur.
The three-member ICT-2, headed by its Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, today (6 August) also scheduled 27 August to begin the trial with the prosecution's opening statement and the commencement of witness deposition, according to tribunal officials.
Six of the 30 accused, who are currently in custody, were produced before the tribunal during today's hearing. The charges against them were read out, and they were asked how they would like to plead. They pleaded not guilty.
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They are Assistant Sub-Inspector Amir Hossain, former Begum Rokeya University proctor Shariful Islam, Constable Sujon Chandra Roy, Chhatra League leaders Imran Chowdhury, Rafiul Hasan Russell, and Anwar Parvez.
Afterwards, the tribunal rejected their plea to exempt them from the case and framed charges against all 30 accused.
The remaining 24, who are still absconding, will be tried in absentia.
Earlier, on 22 July, the tribunal appointed six state defence counsels to represent the fugitive accused in order to conduct the trial in absentia.
On 30 June, ICT-2 issued arrest warrants against 26 fugitives following the tribunal's acceptance of the formal charges submitted by the prosecution.
The investigation agency had submitted its report on 24 June, bringing charges against 30 individuals, including a former commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.
Earlier, on 15 June, the first tribunal had given the prosecution a one-month deadline to submit the investigation report.
Subsequently, the investigation agency was allowed to interrogate four arrestees - Amir Hossain and Sujan Chandra Roy on 18 June, and Shariful Islam and Imran Chowdhury on 19 June.
The tribunal formally showed the four accused arrested in the case on 9 April.
According to the prosecution, on 16 July, 2024, just before Abu Sayed's killing, then-proctor Shariful Islam and BCL activists forcibly removed students from the university campus. During the incident, two policemen allegedly shot and killed Abu Sayed at close range.
The martyr's family lodged a complaint on 13 January, 2025, accusing 25 individuals in connection with the killing.
