The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Wednesday indicated 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 to death during an anti-discrimination protest on the campus.
The tribunal, led by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, set August 27 for placing opening statement from prosecution and 28 for recording depositions of prosecution witnesses.
six detained accused 鈥� proctor Shariful Islam, staff members Anwar Parvez Appel and Rafiul Hasan Rasel, police assistant sub-inspector Amir Hossain, constable Sujan Chandra Roy, and Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury Akash, pleaded innocent and sought justice when the tribunal read out the charges against them.
Charges against the 24 other accused who are still in hiding, could not be read out.
Abu Sayeed case is the first case of International Crimes Tribunal 2, to be tried after its inception during the present interim government.
The tribunal on July 30 concluded hearing of framing charges.
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.
The 24 absconding include nine university staff. They are 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 鈥� 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 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.