Admin asked to bury son at night: Abu Sayed's father tells ICT

Makbul Hossain, father of July Uprising martyr Abu Sayed, testified today at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 in the crimes against humanity case filed over his son's killing.

He said the family received his son's body at around 3:30am, when officials from the administration instructed them to bury it that very night. Makbul replied that burial at night was not possible. The next morning, after two rounds of namaz-e-janaza, Abu Sayed was buried at the family graveyard.

While preparing the body, Makbul noticed blood oozing from the back of his son's head and that his chest was riddled with bullets. Later he learned that then-assistant sub-inspector Amir Hossain and constable Sujan Chandra Roy had shot his son dead.

Makbul said that a few days before the incident, Chhatra League leader Pomel Barua had grabbed Abu Sayed by the throat and slapped him.

He told the tribunal that his son had been a meritorious student who secured a scholarship in the talent pool, achieved a Golden A+ in SSC, and was studying in the English department at Begum Rokeya University. Abu Sayed supported himself by doing private tuition.

Makbul said that on 16 July 2024, after returning home from field work, he found everyone crying. He first heard that Abu Sayed had been shot, then that he had died. "Hearing the news, it felt as if the sky had fallen on my head," he said, breaking down in tears.

Seeking justice, Makbul told the tribunal that those who brutally killed his son must face stern punishment. "Earlier I used to say I wished to live long enough to see my son start his career. Now I only wish to live long enough to see justice for his killing," he said.

Six of the 30 accused, who have so far been arrested, were produced before the court today. They are former BRU proctor Shariful Islam, former assistant registrar Rafiul Hasan Russel, former staffer Md Anwar Pervej, former police ASI Amir Hossain, former constable Sujan Chandra Roy, and former BCL BRU unit general secretary Imran Chowdhury Akash.

On 6 August, the tribunal framed charges against all 30 accused. Today was fixed for the opening statement. Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu represented Sujan Chandra Roy, Advocate Aminul Gani Titu appeared for Shariful Islam, and Advocate Salauddin Regan stood for Imran Chowdhury Akash. The tribunal had earlier formally shown the four accused arrested in the case on 9 April.

The investigation began on 15 June, when the tribunal gave the prosecution a one-month deadline to submit its report. Four of the arrestees – Amir Hossain, Sujan Chandra Roy, Shariful Islam and Imran Chowdhury Akash – were interrogated between 18 and 19 June. On 24 June, the investigation agency submitted its report accusing 30 individuals, including the former Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner.

On 30 June, ICT-2 issued arrest warrants against 26 fugitives, including former BRU vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Hasibur Rashid. On 22 July, the tribunal appointed six state defence counsels to represent the fugitives in absentia. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam pressed for framing charges on 30 July, while defence counsels submitted discharge petitions for three of the detained accused the day before.

In his opening statement on 27 August, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam described Abu Sayed as a "shining symbol of courage in the July Uprising." Despite being injured by a baton charge, Sayed spread his arms and bared his chest as if declaring, "This killing of people must stop."

At that moment, according to the prosecutor, ASI Amir Hossain fired the first bullet, hitting Sayed in the abdomen. Even then, Sayed stood again with chest outstretched, before constable Sujan Chandra Roy fired two more bullets.

Sayed staggered across the road divider and collapsed. Fellow protesters carried him in a rickshaw toward Rangpur Medical College Hospital, but he died on the way. The prosecution also screened two video clips showing policemen shooting him at close range.

According to the case statement, on 16 July 2024, just before Sayed's killing, then-proctor Shariful Islam and BCL activists forcibly removed students from the BRU campus. During the incident, two policemen shot Sayed at point-blank range.

The martyr's family lodged a complaint on 13 January 2025, accusing 25 individuals in connection with the killing.