After the International Crimes Tribunal announced the death sentences for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on charges of crimes against humanity, Abu Sayed’s father, Mokbul Hossain, expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah.
In Babonpur village of Pirgonj upazila in Rangpur—home of Abu Sayed, the first martyr of the July movement—the atmosphere was tense as his parents and relatives watched the announcement of the verdict on television on Monday.
Abu Sayed’s father said: “I am extremely pleased to hear the verdict sentencing Sheikh Hasina to death. My only demand now is that Sheikh Hasina and Kamal be brought back from India quickly and the verdict be executed. I want to see its implementation in my lifetime.”
Abu Sayed’s mother, Monowara Begum, said: “I will never get my son back, but I am very pleased to hear that those who ordered his brutal killing—Sheikh Hasina and Kamal—have been sentenced to death. Now we want to see the verdict carried out.”
Meanwhile, students of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) held a celebratory march and distributed sweets following the verdict.
Earlier, following the verdict, comrades and general students of BRUR’s first martyr of the July movement, Abu Sayed, also brought out a celebratory procession and distributed sweets among students.
At a brief gathering after the march, Abu Sayed’s comrades Suman and Rahmat Ali addressed the crowd. They said that among the five charges for which the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina and her associate, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, to death was the killing of BRUR student Abu Sayed by gunfire.
They said the students of BRUR were pleased that those accused of ordering the killing of Abu Sayed—Sheikh Hasina and Kamal—had been sentenced.
They added that they believed Sheikh Hasina and Kamal, who had taken refuge in India, should be brought back as soon as possible to ensure the verdict was executed.
The vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Professor Dr Showkat Ali, said: “The killing of BRUR student Abu Sayed, the first martyr of the July movement, intensified the movement, and on August 5, we achieved our second independence.”
He added: “With this verdict, students and the people of the country have received justice. But the verdict must be executed, and for that, the accused must be brought back to the country. This is now the demand of the students.”
He added that they believed the dreams of martyr Abu Sayed would be fulfilled through this verdict, and that justice had been established. After the verdict was announced, students distributed sweets both in Rangpur city and on the university campus.
