Appeals filed, Nahid calls for Hasina’s execution

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam on Thursday demanded that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina be brought back to the country and her death sentence carried out, even as four convicts in the Abu Sayed killing case—including two sentenced to death—filed appeals seeking acquittal.

Nahid Islam made the demand after visiting the grave of martyr Abu Sayed at his home in Babanpur, Pirganj upazila of Rangpur, on the occasion of July Martyrs’ Day.

“Sheikh Hasina herself is an accused in the Abu Sayed case, and in that verdict she has been sentenced to death. We hope the government will bring her back to the country within a short time and carry out the execution.

Verdicts in the other cases must also be delivered swiftly and the sentences enforced,” he said.
The NCP leader alleged that the government had only offered verbal assurances about implementing the July Charter, without taking any real steps on the ground.

One of the key organisers of the July uprising, Nahid said the public had given a clear verdict in favour of state reform through the referendum, but the government had betrayed that mandate by failing to act on it.

He said that to truly honour the sacrifices of the July martyrs, the state must move beyond verbal promises and implement reforms and the July Charter in line with the referendum result.

Separately, four convicts appealed to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday, seeking acquittal in the crimes against humanity case over the killing of Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University and the first martyr of the July uprising.

Lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu confirmed that separate appeals had been filed on behalf of the four convicts.

He said the appeals sought their acquittal on five legal grounds presented before the country’s highest court.

The appellants include former Rangpur Metropolitan Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Amir Hossain and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy, who received death sentences from the International Crimes Tribunal.

Former Begum Rokeya University Assistant Registrar Rafiul Hasan Rasel and banned Chhatra League Joint General Secretary Emran Chowdhury, each sentenced to five years in prison, also filed appeals.

“We hope the appeal hearing will be held in accordance with the rules of the Appellate Division,” Azizur Rahman Dulu said.

He added that the allegations against the death-row convicts had not been properly proven and that the tribunal’s verdict had denied the defendants justice.
“We hope the defence will receive justice in the Appellate Division,” he said.

Abu Sayed was shot dead by police at Park Mor in front of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, on July 16, 2024, during the July uprising.

After the political changeover on August 5, a crimes against humanity case was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal over his killing.

The verdict in the case was delivered on April 9 by a three-member tribunal of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with Judge Md Manjurul Bashid and Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as the other members.

The full verdict was published on June 16.
The tribunal sentenced former Rangpur Metropolitan Police ASI Amir Hossain and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy to death.

Three others—former Assistant Police Commissioner of Kotwali Zone Arifuzzaman alias Jibon, former Officer-in-Charge of Tajhat Police Station Robiul Islam alias Nayan, and former BRUR camp in-charge Bibhutibhushan Roy alias Madhab—were sentenced to life imprisonment.

In addition, 25 other accused received various prison terms.

Although the tribunal convicted 30 people in the case, only six are currently in custody.

Seven people have been arrested in the case so far, including former Begum Rokeya University Vice-Chancellor Md Hasibur Rashid, who was arrested from the capital on May 16.

The formal trial began on August 27, 2025, with the prosecution’s opening statement.