Two get death penalty, 28 varying jail terms for Abu Sayed murder

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday sentenced two former policemen to death and awarded varying jail terms to 28 others in a crimes against humanity case filed over the killing of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) student Abu Sayed during the 2024 July uprising.

The three-member ICT-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Mazumder, delivered the verdict.

The death-row convicts are former assistant sub-inspector Amir Hossain and former constable Sujan Chandra Roy.

Of the 30 convicts, 24 were tried in absentia while six are behind bars. Those who are in custody, former BRUR proctor Shariful Islam five years, six banned Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders three years

Earlier on March 5, the tribunal fixed April 9 for pronouncing the verdict in the case.

On June 30, 2025, the ICT took cognisance of charges against 30 people, including former BRUR vice chancellor Hasibur Rashid

The ICT investigation agency submitted a charge sheet against them on June 24, 2025.

Abu Sayed, a 12th batch student of BRUR’s English department, was shot dead during students’ protests on July 16 2024 in front of the university.

The killing intensified the movement, which ultimately culminated in a mass uprising, leading to the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.