The Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday submitted a probe report accusing 30 individuals, including Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former Begum Rokeya University vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid, of conducting crimes against humanity.
The charges relate to the killing of six people, including student leader Abu Sayeed, during nationwide protests against discrimination in Rangpur on July 16, 2024.
An official from the agency told New Age that the report had been sent to the chief prosecutor’s office and would be placed before International Crimes Tribunal-2 later on the day.
On January 13, Abu Sayeed’s brother, Ramjan Ali, filed a formal complaint with the chief prosecutor’s office, accusing 24 people and 130 to 135 unidentified individuals of involvement in the killings.
The investigation later added six more names, including Sheikh Hasina, for their alleged supervisory roles in the incident.
Abu Sayeed was the coordinator of the Student Movement Against Discrimination at Begum Rokeya University. He was killed when police opened fire on demonstrators, leaving six people dead.
The killings triggered widespread outrage and further fueled the student movement.
Ramjan Ali alleged that senior government officials, university leaders, and activists of the ruling party’s student wing, Chhatra League, orchestrated the attack.
Other accused include proctor and political science department associate professor Shariful Islam, math department associate professor Md Mashiur Rahman, public administration department associate professor Asaduzzaman Mondal, former inspector general of police Abdullah Al Mamun, former Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Moniruzzaman, former deputy inspector general of police of Rangpur Division Md Abdul Baten, commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police Md Abu Maruf Hossain, additional deputy commissioner Md Shah Nur Alam Patwari, who later promoted as superintendent of police, RMC’ assistant commissioners Md Arifuzzaman (Kotwali zone) and Md Al Imran Hossain, Tajhat police station officer-in-charge Rabiul Islam, the university’s police outpost in-charge and sub-inspector Bibhuti Bhusan Roy, assistant sub-inspector of police Amir Ali, constable Sujan Chandra Roy, sub-inspector Tariqul Islam who prepared Sayeed’s inquest report, executive magistrate and assistant commissioner (land) for Rangpur Ahmed Sadat, who put signature on the inquest report, the university’s lower class employee Nurunnabi and proctor office employee Rafiul Hasan Rasel.
The university’s unit Chhatra League leaders named in the case include BCL president Pomel Barua, BCL general secretary Shamim Mahfuz, and organising secretary Dhanojoy Kumar Tagore.
On August 18, 2024, Ramjan Ali filed a complaint against the same 24 individuals with the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Rangpur. Police had also filed a murder case against unidentified individuals with the Tajhat police station on July 16, 2024.