2 sentenced to hang, 3 get life in Abu Sayed killing
My heart has not found peace yet, and my soul has not been soothed.
When Abu Sayed stood with his arms outstretched, he thought the humans standing before him would not shoot him, not realising they were “no longer human”, a tribunal observed yesterday while sentencing two to death, three to life imprisonment, and 25 others to varying jail terms.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. As the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2 took its seats in a packed courtroom at 12:10pm, Chairman Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury said Abu Sayed was the first martyr of the 2024 July uprising.
The two other judges, Md Manjurul Basit and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, read portions of the over-500-page judgment before the chairman pronounced the sentences.
Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), was killed on July 16, 2024, near his campus during the quota reform movement.
A video showing him being shot by police while standing with his arms outstretched in defiance went viral, turning him into an icon of resistance and a symbol for the movement. His killing is widely seen as a turning point that galvanised the mass uprising, which culminated in the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
This is the fourth judgment in cases filed on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the uprising, with two each delivered by ICT-1 and ICT-2.
Speaking at a press briefing at their Rangpur home following the verdict, Sayed’s mother Monowara Begum said the family was not satisfied.
“My heart is not at peace, and my soul is not calm,” she said, adding they would have been satisfied if more of the accused had received harsher punishment, particularly the death sentence.
His father Mokbul Hossain said, “We cry every day; every moment passes in pain. Today’s [yesterday’s] verdict has only intensified that pain.”
Sayed’s brother Abu Hossain and Romjan Ali, who were present in the courtroom, also expressed dissatisfaction as some high-ranking officials with command responsibility for the killing and the BRUR BCL president Pomel Barua were not given the death sentence.
Two were sentenced to the gallows for directly shooting Abu Sayed: former assistant sub-inspector of police Amir Hossain and constable Sujan Chandra Roy.
Those sentenced to life imprisonment are Md Arifuzzaman, former assistant commissioner (Kotwali zone) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RMP); Rabiul Islam, former officer-in-charge of Tajhat Police Station; and sub-inspector Bibhuti Bhusan Roy, who was in charge of the university’s police outpost. They were also given an additional 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment on other counts.
Former BRUR vice-chancellor Md Hasibur Rashid and former RMP commissioner Md Moniruzzaman were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on charges of command responsibility.
The university’s associate professors Mashiur Rahman and Asaduzzaman Mondol, and BCL leader Pomel Barua were also given 10 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty under the International Crimes Tribunal Act, 1973.
Eight others who received five-year jail terms are BRUR proctor Shariful Islam; former assistant registrar Rafiul Hasan Russell; former RMP deputy commissioner Md Abu Maruf Hossain and additional DC Md Shah Nur Alam Patwari; Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad’s local president Dr Sarwar Hossain Chandan; BRUR BCL’s joint general secretaries Imran Chowdhury alias Akash and Masudul Hasan alias Masud; and former BRUR office assistant Mahabubar Rahman alias Babu.
Twelve were sentenced to three years in jail. They are Hafizur Rahman alias Tufan; former BRUR assistant registrar Moniruzzaman Palash; BRUR BCL’s general secretary Mahafuzur Rahman Shamim; vice-presidents Fazle Rabbi and Akhtar Hossain; organising secretaries Sezan Ahmed and Dhananjay Kumar alias Tagor; office secretaries Babul Hossain and Sezan Ahmed; former BRUR MLSS (Member of Lower Subordinate Staff) Mohammad Nurunnabi Mondol and AKM Amir Hossain Amu; and security guard Nur Alam Mia.
Meanwhile, Anwar Parvez Apel, a contractual employee at the proctor’s office, was sentenced to the period he had already been in custody. The tribunal ordered his immediate release if he is not arrested in any other case.
The tribunal found all accused guilty on different counts of crimes against humanity, including command responsibility, aiding, abetting, and facilitating.
Six of the 30 arrested accused were present in the dock during the judgment: former ASI Amir; former constable Sujan; former proctor Shariful; former assistant registrar Rafiul; contractual employee Anwar; and BCL leader Imran. The rest remain absconding.
Following the verdict, Sujan was seen weeping with his head bowed. A few of the convicts made aggressive gestures while being escorted out of the courtroom.
Amir shouted, “I do not accept this verdict. I’ve been framed. I’m a government job holder. I only followed the command.”
Two others shouted the slogan “Joy Bangla”.
The prosecution submitted the formal charges on June 30 last year, a week after the investigation agency filed its report. On August 5 of the same year, the tribunal framed charges against all 30 accused, detailing their alleged roles in the shooting of unarmed Abu Sayed.
The trial began on August 27 with Sayed’s father’s deposition. In total, 25 prosecution witnesses testified in the case.
At a media briefing following the verdict, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said the punishments were not sufficient for some of the accused. “We had expected higher sentences for those responsible for command responsibilities.”
He said after reviewing the full judgment, they will have the opportunity to appeal, especially against the lower sentences.
Azizur Rahman Dulu, the lawyer for the two convicts sentenced to death, said they will carefully review the full judgment once they receive a copy and, after a thorough analysis, they will file an appeal to the Appellate Division to secure acquittals for his clients.
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