The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday set April 9 for pronouncing judgement in the crimes against humanity case over the murder of Abu Sayeed in Rangpur on July 16, 2025 during the July 2024 uprising.

A three-judge Tribunal chaired by former High Court judge Nozrul Islam Chowdhury set the schedule. Two other members of the tribunal include retired district and session judge Md Manzurul Basit and incumbent district and sessions judge Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

On January 27, the tribunal concluded hearing of arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the tribunal said that the verdict would be delivered any day.

According to witnesses, Abu Sayeed was standing alone with his arms outstretched near the Dhaka–Rangpur Highway when two police officers shot him from close range as he attempted to enter the campus.

They witnessed the shooting from a nearby tea stall where she took shelter after being dispersed, like Abu Sayeed and many others, from the university’s main gate.

They later identified police personnel Amir and Sujan as the shooters.

The case accused former Begum Rokeya University vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid Bachchu and 29 others of involvement in the killing.

Six accused are currently in custody. They are the university proctor, the two staff, police sub-inspector Amir, constable Sujan, and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury Akash.

Twenty-four other absconding accused, including nine from the university, the former vice-chancellor, Hasibur Rashid Bachchu, the university associate professors Md Mashiur Rahman and Asaduzzaman Mondol Asad, assistant registrar Md Hafizur Rahman Tufan, section officer Md Moniruzzaman Palash, and staff members Mohammad Nurunnabi Mandal, Nur-e-Alam Mia, Mahabubar Rahman Babu, and AKM Amir Hossain Amu.

Six former police officers, who include former Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Moniruzzaman Beltu, former deputy commissioner Md Abu Maruf Hossain Titu, former additional deputy commissioner Md Shah Noor Alam Patwari Suman, former assistant commissioner Md Arifuzzaman Jibon, former Tajhat police station OC Rabiul Islam Nayan, and university police camp in-charge sub-inspector Bibhuti Bhushan Roy Madhav, are also accused in the case.

Eight absconding Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders are also accused. They are Pomel Barua, Fazzle Rabbi alias Glorious Fazle Rabbi, Md Akhtar Hossan, Md Mahafuzur Rahman Shamim, Masudul Hasan Masud, Sejan Ahmed Arif, Dhanojoy Kumar Tagor, and Babul Hossain.

Another absconding accused is Dr Sarowat Hossain Chandan, a forensic expert and member of the pro-Awami League doctors’ organisation Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad. He is accused of falsifying the post-mortem report. The report earlier said that Abu Sayeed died due to a head injury, not due to bullets.