The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Wednesday set August 6 to decide whether charges will be framed against 30 accused, including former Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid, over the murder of student Abu Sayeed during the July 16, 2024 protests.
Abu Sayeed, an English department student of the university, was shot dead during an anti-discrimination protest on the campus.
His killing fuelled the nationwide student uprising that led to the fall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her fleeing to India for shelter on August 5, 2024.
The tribunal, led by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, set the date after three days of hearings.
Arguments were presented by the chief prosecutor, lawyers for six detained accused, and court-appointed lawyers for the 24 accused who are still in hiding.
Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam argued that there is sufficient evidence to start the trial.
Defence lawyers, including Aminul Gani Titu and Azizur Rahman Dulu, urged the court to drop the charges, claiming that their clients were innocent.
Aminul Gani Titu, representing former BRUR proctor Shariful Islam, submitted that the killing occurred off the campus and that the university鈥檚 CCTV footage did not show Shariful鈥檚 involvement.
He requested his client鈥檚 discharge from the case.
Lawyer Dulu, defending constable Sujan Chandra Roy, who is accused of shooting Sayeed at close range, argued that the cause of the death was still unclear.
He said that the medical report confirmed a head injury, but it did not prove that it was caused by a bullet.
Dulu added that Sujan had no link with senior officers who might have planned the attack.
The formal charges in the case were filed on July 1 against 30 individuals, including former vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid, 11 university staff, eight police officers, nine leaders of the banned student organisation Chhatra League, and a physician.
Six of the accused are currently in custody.
They are proctor Shariful Islam, staff members Anwar Parvez Appel and Rafiul Hasan Rasel, police sub-inspector Amir Hossain, constable Sujan Chandra Roy, and Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury Akash.
The 24 absconding include nine university staff. They are Hasibur Rashid Bachchu, Md Mashiur Rahman, Asaduzzaman Mondol Asad, Md Hafizur Rahman Tufan, Md Moniruzzaman Palash, Mohammad Nurunnabi Mandal, Nur-e-Alam Mia, Mahabubar Rahman Babu, and AKM Amir Hossain Amu.
Six absconding police officers are former Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Beltu, DC Md Abu Maruf Hossain Titu, ADC Md Shah Noor Alam Patwari Suman, AC Md Arifuzzaman Jibon, OC Rabiul Islam Nayan, and SI Bibhuti Bhushan Roy Madhav.
Eight fugitive Chhatra League leaders are BRUR unit president Pomel Barua, vice-presidents Fazle Rabbi (alias Glorious Fazle Rabbi) and Md Akhtar Hossan, general secretary Md Mahafuzur Rahman Shamim, joint secretary Masudul Hasan Masud, organising secretaries Sejan Ahmed Arif and Dhanojoy Kumar Tagor, and office secretary Babul Hossain.
One fugitive physician is Dr Sarowat Hossain Chandan, a forensic expert and member of pro-Awami League doctors鈥� body Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, accused of falsifying the post-mortem report.
