The prosecution has sought the maximum punishment for the accused in the murder of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed during the anti-discrimination student movement. The arguments were presented before the two-member International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Md. Manjurul Bashid, where Prosecutor Mizanul Islam made the plea on behalf of the prosecution team that includes Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and Gazi M.H. Tamim.

The tribunal had earlier, on June 30, accepted formal charges against 30 accused, including the university’s former vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid. Among them, six are in custody, including former proctor Shariful Islam, former assistant registrar Rafiul Hasan Russell, former police officers Amir Hossain and Sujon Chandra Roy, and banned student leader Imran Chowdhury alias Akash. A total of 25 witnesses, including the investigating officer, have testified in the case.

Abu Sayeed, a 25-year-old English department student and coordinator of the quota reform movement, was shot dead by police near the university on July 16, sparking nationwide outrage and intensifying the student protests.