Abu Sayeed’s family demands speedy execution of ICT verdict, seeking justice for July uprising martyrs nationwide. Photo : BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Aug 5, 2026 (BSS) – Father Md Mokbul Hossain and mother Monwara Begum, family members and close acquaintances of martyr Abu Sayeed want to see the speedy execution of the court verdict in the Abu Sayeed murder case.
 
They expressed firm confidence in the present government and the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) that the trial of murder cases of all martyrs of the July-August mass uprising will be completed soon and the verdicts executed.
 
Talking to BSS, they expressed this hope at a time when the second anniversary -- of the fall of the Hasina-led fascist government amid a student-led mass uprising -- is being celebrated across the country.
 
Expressing satisfaction over the completion of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)'s trial process in the Abu Sayeed murder case, they said.  
 
Born into a poor family in Babanpur village of Pirganj upazila of Rangpur, Abu Sayeed was the youngest of six brothers. He left behind three sisters. 

On July 16, 2024, Abu Sayeed, one of the student coordinators at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) was killed in police firing during the anti-discrimination student movement in front of the university’s Gate No. 1 in the city.

His martyrdom instantly energized the anti-discrimination student movement and turned it into a nationwide student-people uprising, which forced fascist Sheikh Hasina to flee the country on August 5, 2024 in the face of intense public outrage.
 
Expressing full confidence in the present government regarding execution of the ICT verdict in the Abu Sayeed's murder case, his father Md Mokbul Hossain said, "My beloved son Abu Sayeed was a light of hope for the entire family and their relatives."

"More than two years have passed since Abu Sayeed’s martyrdom. It is still very difficult for me and my family members to live without Abu Sayeed. The police firing ended all my family's dreams," he said.
   
"I want to see the execution of the killers of my son and all other martyrs of the July-August uprising before my death," his voice grew heavier as he spoke. 
  
Standing next to Abu Sayeed’s grave, his mother Monwara Begum said that the family members, can't bear the pain anymore until the execution of the ICT verdict in the Abu Sayeed’s murder case.
 
“I firmly believe that the execution of the court verdict in the Abu Sayeed murder case and trial of all other murder cases of the July martyrs will be completed by the present government soon,” she said, crying uncontrollably. 
 
Abu Sayeed's immediate elder brother Abu Hossain thanked the government for completing the trial process of his brother’s murder case and put emphasis on completing the trial of all other July martyrs’ murder cases.
   
Abu Sayeed’s elder brother Ramzan Ali said, “My brother Abu Sayeed is lying in eternal rest in the courtyard of our house. Tears come to my eyes whenever I see my brother's grave," he broke down in tears as he was narrating. 
 
 “Like my family members, I am hopeful that the present government will implement the ICT verdict in the Abu Sayeed murder case soon.  
  
Md Rahamat Ali, a former student coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement at BRUR, said, "We want justice in the Abu Sayeed murder case and execution of the ICT verdict in the murder of Abu Sayeed murder case soon.”
   
Abu Sayeed’s associate student coordinator and a student of the Department of Bengali at BRUR Shamsur Rahman Suman said it has been more than two years since the murder of Abu Sayeed. 
 
The scene of Abu Sayeed standing with his hands outstretched in front of the bullets has become one of the symbols of the July uprising. 
 
“The ICT announced the verdict in the Abu Sayeed murder case almost four months ago. We hope the milestone of the July massacre trial will be marked soon through execution of the ICT verdict very soon,” he said.
  
As the present government is founded on the blood of the July uprising martyrs, Suman firmly believes that the present government will put maximum stress on completing the trial of all other July uprising martyrs and executive the court verdicts.