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The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) prosecution submitted formal charge against 30 individuals on Monday, including former vice-chancellor (VC) of Begum Rokeya University Rangpur (BRUR), in a case filed in connection with crimes against humanity over the killing of Abu Sayed during the July 2024 Uprising.
A prosecution team at first filed the formal charge at the ICT registrar office, and then Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam placed it to the ICT-2.
Upon a hearing, the ICT-2, headed by its Chairman Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, took the formal charge into its cognizance and scheduled July 10 for the next hearing.
The tribunal also asked the authorities concerned to produce in the court four accused of the case, who are already arrested in other cases, on the next hearing date. BRUR former proctor Shariful Islam, banned Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury Akash, sub-inspector Amir Hossain, and constable Sujan Chandra Roy are already in custody.
The tribunal also issued arrest warrants against 26 accused, including former BRUR VC Prof Dr Md Hasibur Rashid, as they are absconding, and asked the police to submit a compliance report on the issue.
Speaking to the reporters, Mohammad Tazul Islam said, "The tribunal has fixed July 10 as the next date of hearing. If the accused cannot be arrested by then, a public notice will be issued, asking them to surrender. If they fail to comply, the court will proceed with the trial by appointing state defence lawyers for them."
The ICT investigation agency filed its probe report on June 24 in the case lodged over the killing of Abu Sayed, bringing charges against 30 people, including former commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.
According to the prosecution, before the killing of Abu Sayed on July 16, 2024, proctor Shariful and BCL leaders and activists attacked BRUR students and forced them off the campus. At one point, two policemen shot and killed Abu Sayed at close range. The family members of Abu Sayed filed a complaint on January 13 against 25 people.
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