Abu Sayeed, an organiser of the ongoing students’ movement for quota reform in government jobs at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, died of internal haemorrhage as police shot him during a clash on Tuesday.
Head of the forensic medicine department at Rangpur Medical College Hospital Razibul Islam, who conducted his post-mortem examination, said that his body bore marks of rubber bullet injuries and there was also an injury mark in his left parietal [head] region.
Abu Sayeed was buried in his family graveyard at Babonpur in Pirgonj on Wednesday morning, where hundreds of people including the university teachers and his fellow batch mates joined his namaje janaza.
A photo of Abu Sayeed taken before he was shot by police went viral on social media platforms where he was seen braving police action with his hands up holding a stick in the right hand.
Meanwhile, police filed a case and formed an enquiry committee to investigate the incident.
Additional Police Commissioner [Crime and Ops], Rangpur Metropolitan police, Uttom Kumar Pal said that a four-member enquiry committee led by additional commissioner [administration] was formed to look into the incident.Â
A case was registered by the police with Tajhat police station, he said.Â
Earlier, his body was brought to his village home in the early hours of Wednesday after his post-mortem examination at RMCH Tuesday night.Â
Abud Sayeed is the youngest of his nine siblings and was continuing his studies amid severe hardship.
His parents, Mokbul Hossain and Monowara Begum, who could not speak properly for the heavy loss, demanded justice for the killing of their son.
The deceased’s youngest sister said, ‘My brother was the only ray of hope of our family and he was supposed to steer the family after completing his education.’
‘He was a brilliant student and scored Golden GPA-5 from Khalashpir High School and Rangpur Government College in SSC and HSC examinations respectively,’ she said.
She said that their father is a marginal farmer who could not afford his educational expenses and Abu Sayeed had to manage his academic expenditures by doing private tuition.
Head of English department of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Asif Al Matin, said that Abu Sayeed attended Honours’ final examination in the university this year.
The result is yet to be published, he said, adding that Abu was a brilliant student in the department who scored above CGP-3 marks in his previous semesters.
However, no case was registered with the local police station from the University end yet, confirmed Public Relations Officer, BRUR, Mohammad Ali.Â
Meanwhile, in a press release, the university vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Hasibur Rashid expressed deep condolence and sympathy to the bereaved family for the loss of life.
It said that the university would conduct a proper investigation into the killing and bring the responsible ones under trial.
Meanwhile, Ganatantra Mancha formed a human chain in front of the Rangpur Press Club Wednesday noon, protesting at the killing and demanding justice.
On Tuesday, Abu Sayeed, 22, was killed and around fifty were injured in an hour-long clash between police, ruling party student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League and quota protesters on the campus.
RMCH director Younus Ali said that some 19 injured including two journalists got admitted on Tuesday.
‘Six of them are undergoing treatment,’ he said.
On Tuesday, the clash erupted in front of the main entrance of the university when police intercepted a procession of protesting students from the Lalbagh area, trying to enter the campus at about 2.30 pm.
Locals and eyewitnesses said that the police charged batons, opened fire and rubber bullets to disperse the agitated students.
The BCL activists along with outsiders hurled brick and stones at the protesters and chased the protesters carrying machetes and cricket bat beside the police action that continued around one and a half hours, leaving Abu killed and around fifty students injured.
Meanwhile, the protesters on Wednesday noon changed the name of the Park Intersection in the city, adjacent to the University main gate, and renamed it as Shaheed Abu Sayeed Chattar to pay respect to his bravery.
