Court Reporter //

The full verdict of 809 pages of various sentences of 30 accused, including former Vice Chancellor of Rangpur Begum Rokeya University Hasibur Rashid, who was convicted in the murder case of Abu Sayeed, the first martyr of the July Uprising, has been published. The verdict was released by the International Crimes Tribunal-2 after being signed last Thursday.

The full verdict said that the convicted former Vice Chancellor Professor Hasibur Rashid knowingly aided and abetted the illegal operation against unarmed student protesters on the campus. He failed to prevent the spread of violence and instead supported and acquiesced to those involved in this operation.

The verdict said that Hasibur’s actions and inaction played a role in creating the situation in which Abu Sayeed was killed and others were injured.

The tribunal said in its verdict that former Rangpur Police Commissioner Md. Moniruzzaman authorized and facilitated the use of excessive force against unarmed protesters and failed to prevent or punish the unlawful acts committed by his subordinates.

However, the judgment observed that, relying on Abu Saeed’s medical evidence, video footage and the findings of the UN fact-finding mission, the Tribunal concluded that members of the police force intentionally and unlawfully killed Abu Saeed. The killing was premeditated. The July protests cannot in any way be considered a suppression of militancy.

The Tribunal said in its judgment that Abu Saeed died as a result of shock and hemorrhage caused by multiple firearms and declared this death to be murder.

The Tribunal further stated that Abu Saeed’s killing was part of a widespread and planned attack on civilians during the July-August 2024 protests. The tribunal further observed that it was a murder and amounted to a crime against humanity under Section 3(2)(d) of the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973.

Commenting on the verdict, Aminul Islam said, “We have received a copy of the full 809-page verdict. I think the tribunal has given this verdict by applying a very judicial mind. There were 30 accused, they have sentenced all of them.”

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said that those who threw bricks, chased with sticks or who were the main participants during the incident have also been punished considering the seriousness of the charges.

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