United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday evening visited the grave of Abu Sayed, a Begum Rokeya University student who was killed by police firing during the July Uprising in 2024. Tarique reached Jafarpara Babonpur village in Pirganj around 6pm and offered fateha at Abu Sayed’s grave. Later, he spoke to the members of the martyr’s family and expressed his condolences. BNP Standing Committee member Professor AZM Zahid Hossain and senior leaders of the party’s Rangpur district unit were present at the time. Speaking to reporters later, Professor Zahid said Tarique offered fateha at Sayed’s grave and prayed for the eternal peace of Abu Sayed, who was martyred during the July student–led mass uprising. “Paying respect to Abu Sayed is not only a duty of BNP, it is the responsibility of people across the country,” he said. Zahid said Abu Sayed’s sacrifice inspired millions of people to stand up against autocracy. “On July 16, 2024, Abu Sayeed stood fearlessly against repression at Begum Rokeya University. His courage showed the nation how to resist oppression, even in the face of bullets,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said his party will continue its efforts to realise the dreams of the July martyrs, pledging to build a corruption-free, discrimination-free and justice-based Bangladesh. “They envisioned building an independent Bangladesh free from corruption and discrimination based on justice. We have no dreams of our own, their dreams are our dreams. We have forged unity to turn those dreams into reality. If we are able to form the government, we will fulfill all of Abu Sayed’s dreams,” he said. Shafiqur made the remarks after visiting the grave of Abu Sayed,  the first martyr of July movement, in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur in the morning. He said Jamaat-e-Islami is ready to make sacrifices in the same way the martyrs laid down their lives and the party would never bow down to injustice even at the cost of life. After the grave visit, the Jamaat Ameer met Abu Sayed’s parents and family members and expressed condolences. He demanded exemplary punishment of those responsible for the killing. Briefing the media later, Shafiqur said Jamaat-e-Islami has never abandoned the people in difficult times or crises and will not do so in the future either. He said the party stood by the people even in the toughest situations and would continue to do so regardless of circumstances. He later joined an election rally at Palashbari upazila in Gaibandha at 10am. According to the schedule, he is also set to address public rallies in Bogura town at 12pm and in Sherpur upazila of Bogura at 2:30pm. He will then attend rallies in Sirajganj town at 3:30pm and in Ullapara upazila at 4pm. The second day of his election campaign is scheduled to conclude with a rally in Pabna district at 6:30pm where he will campaign in support of Jamaat-e-Islami and alliance-backed candidates.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday ordered the authorities concerned to complete the investigation into the case filed on charge of crimes against humanity over the killing of Begum Rokeya University Student Abu Sayed during the July uprising and submit the report by June 15. The three-member bench of the ICT led by its chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order after hearing a petition. NBR Chairman refers to Shaheed Abu Sayed as “Bir Sreshtho” The court also asked to keep former sub-inspector Amir Hossain, constable Sujon Roy, former proctor of Begum Rokeya University Shariful Islam and banned Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury Akash in jail after showing them arrested in the case. All the four accused were produced before the court in the morning. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam said preliminary evidence of crime was found against 26 people in the murder case and the investigation is in its final stages. On March 2, the tribunal asked police to produce four accused in the case before the tribunal on April 9. Abu Sayed killing: 2 cops put on 4-day remand Abu Sayed, a 12th batch student of Begum Rokeya University's English Department, was killed in the anti-discrimination student movement on July 16 afternoon - thus becoming the first student killed in police firing in the July movement. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Amir Hossain and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy were suspended and attached to the police lines for their alleged involvement in the killing.    

A Dhaka court has framed charges against suspended assistant commissioner Tapashee Tabassum Urmi in a case filed for making derogatory remarks about Abu Sayed and other martyrs of the July uprising. The formal trail in the case started through framing charges on Tuesday. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah passed the order in her presence, rejecting a plea for exempting her from the charges, said state prosecutor Md Khaledul Islam. The court on January 26 had set February 4 for holding a hearing on the charge framing in the case. Gono Adhikar Parishad’s leader Abu Hanif filed the case on October 8, 2024. Court summons suspended Assistant Commissioner Tapashee On November 28, a Dhaka court recorded the statement of the complainant and summoned the accused. Urmi surrendered before the court on that day and pleaded for bail. The court granted her bail on a bond of Tk 500 after hearing a plea. On October 5 last year, Tapashee Tabassum Urmi posted a derogatory remark on Facebook, targeting both the martyrs of the July-August mass uprising and the chief adviser of the interim government. As a consequence, she was made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) the following day and was officially suspended on October 7.

Maqbul Hossain, father of martyr Abu Sayeed, has been admitted to the Dhaka Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for advanced cardiac care following a heart attack. The 74-year-old was flown to Dhaka on Tuesday night via an army helicopter, said his elder son, Ramzan Ali. He said that doctors recommended transferring Maqbul Hossain to Dhaka CMH after his condition deteriorated. Earlier, on December 7, Maqbul was admitted to Rangpur CMH with fever and stomach pain. However, his health worsened, and he was shifted to the ICU of Rangpur Medical College Hospital on December 10 for closer monitoring. Subsequent tests confirmed he had suffered a heart attack, prompting the decision to move him to Dhaka for specialised treatment. Woman, her daughter die in Kurigram road accident Abu Sayed was the first killed in police firing during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, was shot dead on July 16. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Amir Hossain and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy were suspended and attached to the police lines for their alleged involvement with this killing.