Two eyewitnesses to the killing of Abu Sayed, Begum Rokeya University (BRU) student Rina Murmu and NTV journalist AKM Moinul Haque, testified today as prosecution witnesses against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, in a case of crimes against humanity.
Rina Murmu and, following her, A K M Moinul Haque submitted their depositions at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1.
After Murmu's deposition, Advocate Amir Hossain, state-appointed counsel for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, cross-examined Murmu.
"I was standing near the incident and saw the shooting of Abu Sayed. I saw two policemen firing on him and later learned they were Amir (former sub-inspector of police) and Sujon Chandra (former constable)," the witness said.
Murmu, at the end of her testimony, said she holds Sheikh Hasina, the university administration, leaders and activists of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League and members of the Rangpur Metropolitan Police, who were involved in firing on the students, responsible for the killing and demanded justice.
The court adjourned the proceedings of the case till August 17, 2025, after submission of the two eyewitnesses.
Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are still at large, while former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is now an approver of the case, was present in the dock.
The first tribunal, led by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, on July 10, indicted the trio for their role in crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising.
The ICT-1 on June 17 published a notice in two national dailies, asking Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender to the court on June 24.
The notice asked them to surrender to the court as per Rule 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure 2010 (Amendment), 2025. Otherwise, their trial will be held in absentia as per section 10A of the ICT Act, 1973, the notice said.
On June 1, the ICT-1 took the formal charge against the trio into cognisance and had set June 16 for further order.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam told the court on June 16 that Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are yet to be arrested, and police learned from different sources that they are in India right now.
The prosecution in the formal charge brought five charges against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
The investigation agency of the ICT on May 12 filed its probe report in the crimes against humanity and mass killing case.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2
Earlier, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Wednesday framed charges against 30 accused in a crime against humanity case over the killing of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayed during the July-August Mass Uprising of 2024.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order, rejecting discharge petitions submitted by counsels for some of the accused.
A total of six out of the 30 accused were produced before the court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Those in custody and facing trial in person are former BRU proctor Shariful Islam, former assistant registrar Rafiul Hasan Russel, former staffer Md Anwar Pervej, former sub-inspector of police Amir Hossain, former constable Sujan Chandra Roy, and former general secretary of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League university unit, Imran Chowdhury Akash.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam pressed for the framing of charges during the hearing on July 30, while on July 29, defence counsels filed discharge petitions for three of the detained accused.
Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu represented Sujan Chandra Roy, Advocate Aminul Gani Titu appeared for Shariful Islam, and Advocate Salauddin Regan stood for Imran Chowdhury Akash.
Earlier, on July 22, the tribunal appointed six state defence counsels to represent the fugitive accused in order to conduct the trial in absentia.
On June 30, ICT-2 issued arrest warrants against 26 fugitives, including former Begum Rokeya University vice-chancellor Md Hasibur Rashid, following the tribunal's acceptance of the formal charges submitted by the prosecution.
The investigation agency had submitted its report on June 24, bringing charges against 30 individuals, including a former commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.
Earlier, on June 15, the first tribunal had given the prosecution a one-month deadline to submit the investigation report. Subsequently, the investigation agency was allowed to interrogate four arrestees - Amir Hossain and Sujan Chandra Roy on June 18, and Shariful Islam and Imran Chowdhury Akash on June 19.
The tribunal formally showed the four accused arrested in the case on April 9.
According to the prosecution, on July 16, 2024, just before Abu Sayed's killing, then-proctor Shariful Islam and BCL activists forcibly removed students from the BRU campus.
During the incident, two policemen allegedly shot and killed Sayed at close range.
The martyr's family complained on January 13, 2025, accusing 25 individuals in connection with the killing.
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