Students have alleged that instead of arresting the prime suspects in the Abu Sayed murder case, there is an attempt to make former proctor of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) Professor Shariful Islam, the main accused.
In protest of this, hundreds of general students staged a demonstration and rally in front of the university’s main gate at 3:30pm on Tuesday.
The rally was addressed by Begum Rokeya University students Zaker Hossain Pasha, Sakib, Khokon, Ashik, and Sultana.
According to the protesting students, the name of former proctor Shariful Islam was not mentioned in the case filed by Abu Sayed’s elder brother, Ramzan Ali.
Moreover, the main suspects in the case have not yet been arrested, they added.
They claimed that Abu Sayed became the icon of the July-August uprising, and his sacrifice led to the fall of the “fascist” Sheikh Hasina government, securing a second independence.
However, none of the police officers, who were allegedly the masterminds behind his murder, have been arrested.
They further alleged that members of the university’s Chhatra League unit and faculty members Mashiur and Asad directly led the attack on protesters, throwing bricks and stones at them and assaulting Abu Sayed.
None of these individuals have been apprehended, leading students to believe that there is an attempt to misdirect the investigation.
One of the speakers said that while former proctor Shariful Islam may have had administrative responsibilities at the time of Abu Sayed’s murder, attempting to make him the prime accused is unacceptable to the students of Begum Rokeya University.
They argued that Professor Islam had actively supported the students during the July-August movement, participated in rallies, and even attended Abu Sayed’s funeral prayer in absentia.
Thus, implicating him in the murder case appears to be part of a deep conspiracy, they said.
Students have accused the administration of trying to suppress the murder case in order to protect the real culprits, thereby serving the interests of the Awami regime. They claim that designating Professor Shariful Islam as the prime accused is part of this scheme.
The students demanded that those directly responsible for Abu Sayed’s murder, including the police officers, Chhatra League cadres, and the two faculty members involved, be identified and brought to justice.
They urged the chief prosecutor of the International Tribunal to ensure the identification and exemplary punishment of the real perpetrators.
The students also emphasized that they would not accept any attempt to falsely implicate Professor Shariful Islam in the International Crimes Tribunal case.
They pointed out that there is no video evidence linking him to the murder. The protesting students demanded the arrest of the actual culprits and called for a speedy trial in the Abu Sayed murder case.
The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the arrest of former proctor Shariful Islam, former Chhatra League leader of Begum Rokeya University Akash, police constable Sujon Chandra, and ASI Amir Ali.
They are to be presented before the tribunal on April 9.
