The International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday asked the jail authorities to produce four arrested suspects before the court on April 9 in connection with a case of crimes against humanity committed in Rangpur during the July-August mass uprising.
The accused include former Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur proctor Shariful Islam, former Bangladesh Chhatra League joint secretary Imran Chowdhury Akash, and two police personnel鈥攁ssistant sub-inspector Amir Ali and constable Sujan Chandra Roy.
The case stems from the fatal shooting of BRUR student Abu Sayeed on campus, allegedly by the police, on July 16, 2024 amid a countrywide student movement against discrimination in government job recruitment.
Sayeed鈥檚 death intensified the protests, which ultimately coalesced into a demand for the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister. She was overthrown from power on August 5, 2024.
Three of the four individuals were among the 25 accused named in a complaint filed by Sayeed鈥檚 brother Raman Ali with the office of the chief prosecutor on January 13.
Imran Chowdhury Akash, the president of Sheikh Russel Shishu Kishor Krira Chakra, was arrested at his residence in Gangapara as a suspect in the murder of Abu Sayeed on February 17 during the Operation Devil Hunt.
According to prosecutor Tajul Islam, ASI Amir and constable Sujan fired at Sayeed while former BRUR proctor Shariful and ex-BCL leader Imran were directly involved in the killing.
He said that all four suspects are currently detained in jail in connection with another case.
Tajul further said that the investigation into Sayeed鈥檚 murder is in its final stage, and the probe report is expected to be submitted before the tribunal by April 9, the next scheduled date for hearing.
He alleged that Sheikh Hasina ordered the nationwide July-August 2024 atrocities, and officers who carried out her directives at the grassroots level are likely to be named as the prime accused in the investigation report on Sayeed鈥檚 murder.
Hasina is the prime accused in all genocide-related cases concerning the violence between July 1, 2024 and August 5, 2024, Tajul said.
鈥榃e will file separate cases against individual perpetrators, holding them accountable under the principle of superior command responsibility for crimes against humanity,鈥� he added.
A complaint regarding crimes against humanity, including the killings of Abu Sayeed and three others, was filed with the ICT chief prosecutor鈥檚 office on January 13.
Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former BRUR vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid and other high-ranking officials and student leaders were among the accused named in the complaint.
Ramjan also accused 130鈥�135 unidentified people in the case.
Other accused in the case include the then BRUR proctor Shariful Islam, associate professor for mathematics Md Mashiur Rahman, associate professor for public administration Asaduzzaman Mondal, former inspector general of police Abdullah Al Mamun, former Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Moniruzzaman, former deputy inspector general of Rangpur division Md Abdul Baten, Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Abu Maruf Hossain, additional deputy commissioner Md Shah Nur Alam Patwari, assistant commissioners Md Arifuzzaman and Md Al Imran Hossain, Tajhat police station officer-in-charge Rabiul Islam, BRUR police outpost in-charge Bibhuti Bhusan Roy, sub-inspector Tariqul Islam who prepared Sayeed鈥檚 inquest report, executive magistrate and assistant commissioner Ahmed Sadat, who signed the inquest report, BRUR employees Nurunnabi and Rafiul Hasan Rasel.
The university unit Chhatra League leaders named in the case include its president Pomel Barua, general secretary Shamim Mahfuz and organising secretary Dhanojoy Kumar Tagore.聽
Only three of the 25 accused in the case have been arrested.
On August 18, 2024, Ramjan Ali filed a complaint with the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Rangpur against the same accused persons.
The police on July 16 filed a case with the Tajhat police station against unidentified individuals in connection with Sayeed murder.
