Two terminated policemen have been sentenced to death for the killing of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayed, who later became an emblem of the 2024 uprising in Bangladesh.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 in Dhaka Thursday handed down the death sentence to former assistant sub-inspector Amir Hossain and constable Sujan Chandra Roy to death for their role in the killing of the student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur during the July uprising.
The Sayed-shooting incident fuelled the student-mass movement against disparity into flare-ups that ultimately led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina government on August 5th, encoded by the protesters as 'July 36' to mean a month-long revolt.
The verdict marks a significant milestone in the judicial reckoning over the violence that engulfed the country during the 2024 July uprising.
The legal pursuit for justice began in earnest on January 13, 2025, when Abu Sayed's family formally lodged a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). This moved the case from a standard criminal investigation into the realm of crimes against humanity, reflecting the systematic nature of the violence used against protesters.
The ICT's investigation agency conducted an exhaustive five-month inquiry, eventually submitting its probe report on June 24, 2025. The investigation meticulously reconstructed the events of July 16, 2024, utilising viral video footage, drone logs, and forensic evidence.
The agency's findings brought charges against 30 individuals, including high-ranking police officials and university's administration members, for their coordinated roles in the assault on students.
The trial officially commenced at ICT-2 after charges were framed against all 30 accused on August 6, 2025. The prosecution, led by Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, argued that the killing "was not an isolated police excess but a planned execution designed to terrorise the student population".
A total of 25 prosecution witnesses testified, including Abu Sayed's octogenarian father, Maqbul Hossain, who stood as the first witness on August 28, 2025. His testimony underscored the personal tragedy behind the case, as well as the broader social resonance of his son's death.
The investigation officer, Ruhul Amin, was the final witness to be cross-examined on January 13, 2026. Following a week of closing arguments that ended on January 27, the tribunal kept the matter under CAV (Curia Advisari Vult), reserving its judgment until Thursday's pronouncement.
Abu Sayed, 25, was a student of English at Begum Rokeya University (BRU). Hailing from Babanpur village in Pirganj, Rangpur, he was the youngest of nine children.
Sayed was widely described by family members as the "brightest star" of a modest household. His parents, Maqbul Hossain and Monowara Begum, saw in him the promise of upward mobility, while his siblings contributed financially to sustain his education, reflecting the collective aspirations invested in his future.
Family members of Abu Sayed, described as the first martyr of the July uprising, attended the hearing and demanded the death penalty.
"We want the highest punishment, death penalty, for those who killed my brother," said Abu Hossain, one of Sayed's brothers. Another brother, Ramzan Ali, expressed satisfaction with the judicial process so far but reiterated the demand for capital punishment.
On July 16, 2024, during the height of the Quota Reform Movement, Sayed stood alone in front of police at the university gates. Video footage later circulated widely, showing him facing armed officers with his chest bared.
Forensic findings confirmed he was shot multiple times with 12-gauge shotguns using lead birdshot, which struck him in the chest and face. The visual record of his final moments -- standing with arms outstretched before collapsing -- became one of the most enduring and widely shared images of the uprising.
According to bdnews24.com, The parents of Abu Sayed have expressed dissatisfaction with the International Crimes Tribunal's (ICT) verdict, alleging that high-ranking officials and key suspects were spared.
Reacting to the news at their home in Pirgonj, Sayed's father Mokbul Hossain told reporters that the verdict failed to account for the roles of influential figures involved in the killing.
"I am not satisfied. Only two were given the death penalty, but many others deserve the gallows," Mokbul said.
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