Abu Sayed murder: Two police officers sentenced to death, others get various jail terms

International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) sentenced two police officers to death and handed varying prison terms to 28 others for their involvement in the killing of Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), during the anti-discrimination student movement in 2024.

A three-member bench led by Tribunal Chairman Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with Judges Md. Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as panel members, passed the orders on Thursday (April 9).

The death sentences are given to former Rangpur Metropolitan Police ASI Amir Hossain and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy.

The three who were given life sentences are former Assistant Police Commissioner (Kotwali Zone) Arifuzzaman alias Jibon, former Tajhat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rabiul Islam alias Nayan, and former BRUR Camp In-Charge Bibhuti Bhushan Roy alias Madhab.

The tribunal also sentenced ten years prison terms to two faculty members of Begum Rokeya University—Mashiur Rahman and Asaduzzaman Mondal alias Asad to . The president of the university’s Chhatra League branch also received the same prison term.

Earlier in the day, six accused currently in custody—including Police Sub-Inspector Amir Hossain, Constable Sujon Chandra Roy, University Proctor Shariful Islam, former student leader Imran Chowdhury Akash, Assistant Registrar Rafiul Hasan Rasel, and staff member Anwar Parvez Apple—were brought under heavy police guard to ICT-2.

The trial formally began after charges were framed against all 30 accused on August 6, 2025, with opening statements delivered on August 27. The killing occurred on July 16, 2024, during the student unrest, and the prosecution submitted its investigation report on June 26, 2025.

Representatives of state-appointed lawyers handled the defense for the absconding accused.