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Four convicts sentenced in the Abu Sayeed murder case have filed appeals with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, seeking acquittal from the verdict delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Defence counsel Azizur Rahman Dulu confirmed the development on Thursday.
The appellants are former Rangpur Metropolitan Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Amir Hossain, Constable Sujan Chandra Roy, former Begum Rokeya University Proctor Shariful Islam and Assistant Registrar Rafiul Hasan Russell.
Among them, Amir Hossain and Sujan Chandra Roy were sentenced to death, while Shariful Islam and Rafiul Hasan Russell were each sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
On April 9 this year, the ICT delivered its verdict in the case, sentencing two accused to death, three to life imprisonment, five to 10 years’ imprisonment, eight to five years’ imprisonment and 11 others to three years in jail. One accused was released after the tribunal counted the period already spent in custody as the full term of the sentence.
According to the prosecution, Abu Sayeed, a student of the English Department at Begum Rokeya University, was shot dead by police at Park Mor in Rangpur on July 16, 2024, during the anti-quota movement.
Those sentenced to life imprisonment are former Assistant Police Commissioner (Kotwali Zone) Arifuzzaman alias Jibon, former Tajhat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Robiul Islam alias Nayan and the university’s former camp in-charge Bibhuti Bhushan Roy alias Madhab.
The five convicts sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment include former Vice-Chancellor Dr Hasibur Rashid, former Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Moniruzzaman, Associate Professors Mashiur Rahman and Asaduzzaman Mondal, and Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Begum Rokeya University unit president Pomel Barua. All of them remain absconding.
Those sentenced to five years’ imprisonment include former Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Shah Nur Alam Patwari, former Deputy Police Commissioner Abu Maruf Hossain, former Proctor Shariful Islam, Assistant Registrar Rafiul Hasan Russell, Chhatra League leaders Emran Chowdhury alias Akash and Masudul Hasan, university employee Mahabubar Rahman and Dr Sarwar Hossain.