Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the southern region of the National Citizen Party (NCP), appeared before the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Tuesday to testify in the crimes against humanity case over the killing of Abu Sayed, a student of Rangpur’s Begum Rokeya University and the first martyr of the July mass uprising stemming from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
His testimony is being recorded by the three-member tribunal headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. Hasnat Abdullah is testifying as witness No 22 in the case.
Six accused are currently in custody: Assistant Sub-Inspector Amir Hossain, former Begum Rokeya University proctor Shariful Islam, constable Sujan Chandra Roy, and Chhatra League leaders Imran Chowdhury, Rafiul Hasan Russell and Anwar Parvez.
Earlier, the testimony and cross-examination of witness No 21 concluded on November 27, marking the 18th day of witness proceedings. On November 24, a police officer appeared before the tribunal but did not testify for unspecified reasons.
On November 23, a student who took Abu Sayeed to hospital testified, stating that police removed the body from the road after he was declared dead. He was later cross-examined by the defence, including lawyers representing the 24 absconding accused. Student Shan-e Rawnak Basunia testified on November 18, placing additional information on record.
Mithapukur police station OC Md Noor Alam Siddique testified on November 16 as witness No 17, giving an account of events from July 16 last year. Earlier, Police Nayek Abu Bakar Siddique testified as an eyewitness on November 13, while SI (Armed) Md Ashraful Islam told the tribunal on November 12 that Abu Sayed was shot on the orders of then Rangpur Kotwali zone AC Md Arifuzzaman and Tajhat police station OC Rabiul Islam.
Several student witnesses have also testified, including Rangpur Carmichael College student Imran Ahmed on November 11 and Begum Rokeya University student Aqib Reza Khan, one of the leaders of the July movement in Rangpur, on November 10. Hearings were postponed on November 4, October 21 and October 13 as witnesses could not be produced.
Witness testimony in the case began on August 28 with a statement from Abu Sayed’s father, Maqbul Hossain. Journalist Moinul Haque also testified the same day.
The formal trial began on August 27 following the opening statement by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam. On August 6, the tribunal framed charges against 30 accused. Of them, 24—including the former vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University—remain absconding.
The investigation report was submitted on June 24, and the tribunal formally took cognizance of the charges on June 30. A total of 62 witnesses are slated to testify in the case.
