The prosecution expects the trial of the Abu Sayeed murder case, linked to crimes against humanity during the July uprising, to be completed by January next year. Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur (BRUR), is regarded as the first martyr of the July movement.
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam expressed this hope while speaking to journalists during a press briefing at the premises of the International Crimes Tribunal on Monday.
He said, “Today we have completed the testimony of the 12th witness in the case against 30 accused, including former BRUR Vice-Chancellor Hasibur Rashid. We plan to record statements from around 30 to 35 witnesses in total. Hopefully, the trial will be concluded by January.”
The 12th witness, Aqib Reza Khan, a student of Begum Rokeya University, testified that he personally placed Abu Sayeed—injured during the incident—on a rickshaw to be taken to the hospital. He held the university administration responsible for the killing, alleging negligence and inaction. He also named several individuals, including ASI Amir Hossain, constable Sujan Chandra Roy, and some university teachers and staff, claiming that their silence and failure to act enabled the tragedy.
The testimony was recorded before the three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.
Representing the prosecution were Mizanul Islam, Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, Moinul Karim, and Shahidul Islam, among others.
Six of the accused—ASI Amir Hossain, former BRUR proctor Shariful Islam, constable Sujan Chandra Roy, Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury, Rafiqul Hasan Russell, and Anwar Parvez—are currently under arrest.
The formal trial began on August 27 with opening statements by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, following the tribunal’s order on August 6 to frame charges against 30 accused. However, 24 suspects, including the former vice-chancellor of the university, remain fugitives. The tribunal appointed four state-funded lawyers on July 22 to represent the absconding defendants.
