Abu Sayeed Murder Trial to End by January: Prosecution

The prosecution expects the trial in the case filed over the killing of Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University and the first martyr of the July uprising under the anti-discrimination student movement, to be completed by January next year.

Prosecutor Mizanul Islam made the comment on Monday while speaking to journalists at the premises of the International Crimes Tribunal.

He said: “Testimony from the 12th witness in the case against 30 accused, including former BRUR vice chancellor Hasibur Rashid, has been completed today. We plan to conclude witness examination after recording the depositions of around 30–35 witnesses. However, the timing of the verdict—whether before or after the election—is beyond our authority. We hope to complete the trial by January.”

When asked about delays in witness testimony, Mizanul Islam explained that one witness had earlier fallen ill, while the investigating officer was occupied with two other cases, and he himself had been away briefly for work.

“These are routine matters, not major obstacles,” he said, adding that there is no reason to think the prosecution is causing delays and that the witness examination will conclude very soon.

Earlier in the day, the 12th witness, BRUR student Akib Reza Khan, testified before the tribunal.

He said he placed Abu Sayed, who had been injured, in a rickshaw to be taken to the hospital. Holding the university administration responsible for the incident, he named police officers ASI Amir Hossain and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy, along with several BRUR teachers and staff members, as being involved. He alleged that administrative inaction, silence, and negligence led to the killing.

The tribunal proceedings began at 11:30am, with the testimony recorded by the International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.

Prosecutor Mizanul Islam represented the prosecution, assisted by Prosecutors Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, Moinul Karim, and Shahidul Islam.