Four convicts in Abu Sayed murder case appeal for acquittal

Four convicts have filed appeals with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking acquittal in the crimes against humanity case over the killing of Abu Sayed, the first martyr of the July uprising and a student of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur.

Lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu told the media today (16 July) that separate appeals had been filed with the Appellate Division on behalf of the four convicts.

He said the appeals were filed on five legal grounds seeking their acquittal.

The appellants are former Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RMP) Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Amir Hossain and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy, who were sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), and former Begum Rokeya University assistant registrar Rafiul Hasan Russell and Bangladesh Chhatra League joint general secretary Emran Chowdhury, who were sentenced to five years in prison.

Of the 30 people convicted by the tribunal, six are currently in custody.

According to the defence, one of the key grounds of appeal is that Abu Sayed's clothes at the time of the incident had no bullet holes, although such marks would normally be expected if he had been shot in the chest or back.

The defence also argued that the inquest and post-mortem reports did not mention any bullet entry or exit wounds on his body or clothing. They claimed that if a bullet remained inside his body, the prosecution should have produced X-ray or radiographic evidence, but failed to do so.

The appeal further referred to the inquest report, which stated that Abu Sayed died after sustaining an injury to the back of his head. His father also testified before the tribunal that he saw an injury mark on the back of his son's head while preparing the body for burial.

Dulu said these arguments were presented before the tribunal but were not clearly addressed in the judgement.

"We hope the Appellate Division will consider these issues and ensure justice. Justice is needed not only for the accused but also for the victim's family. The parents who lost their son have the right to know who killed him," he said.

The ICT-2 published the full judgement on 14 June after delivering the verdict on 9 April. The tribunal convicted 30 people, sentencing two to death, three to life imprisonment, five to 10 years, eight to five years and 11 to three years in prison.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment include former RMP Assistant Commissioner Arifuzzaman Jibon, former Tajhat Police Station officer-in-charge Robiul Islam alias Nayan and former Begum Rokeya University camp in-charge Bibhuti Bhushan Roy Madhab.

The 10-year imprisonment sentences were handed to former vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid Bacchu, former RMP commissioner Moniruzzaman Beltu, former associate professor Moshiur Rahman, associate professor Asaduzzaman Mondal Asad and former Chhatra League Begum Rokeya University unit president Pomel Barua. They are all absconding.

Abu Sayed died soon after sustaining injuries in police firing at Park Mor in front of Begum Rokeya University on 16 July 2024 during the July uprising. Following the political changeover on 5 August, a crimes against humanity case was filed with the ICT, which delivered its verdict on 9 April this year.