Md. Mafiz Uddin Sarker, Rangpur

16th July, 2026 is the 2nd martyrdom anniversary of Shahid Abu Sayeed. On this occasion ‘The Country Today’ took an interview of father of Shaheed Abu Sayeed Md. Maqbul Hossain.

During this interview he wanted to see the punishment of the accused in the murder case of Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, who created a stir across the country and was shot by the police in the anti-discrimination student movement in Rangpur. At the same time, he demanded that the accused be punished quickly. At the same time, the veteran father of this scholar also hopes that no young life will be lost due to quota discrimination.

He said these in an exclusive interview with ‘The Country Today’ on Tuesday afternoon at his residence in the private village of Jafarpara Babanpur village in Madankhali union of Pirganj upazila of Rangpur. Currently, Md. Maqbul Hossain, father of martyr Abu Sayeed, is somewhat weak due to various physical ailments.

Expressing disappointment over the lack of successful progress in the cases filed by the martyrs and injured fighters of the quota movement; he said that no progress has been made in these trials. He said that justice must be ensured properly. No criminal can escape through the loopholes of the law. He also commented that the government must be vigilant so that no innocent person is subjected to unnecessary harassment. He is very happy with the way the state and society have shown respect to the father of this martyr. Wishing that the country may be run more smoothly, he said that the fact that quota reform has not been implemented should not be heard again. It is necessary to ensure that everyone regains the right to live a dignified life. For this, he prayed for everyone with all his heart.

It is worth noting that on July 16, 2024, during the quota reform movement, Abu Sayeed was killed in indiscriminate police firing during a clash between students in a joint attack by the police, Chhatra League and Jubo League at the intersection of the park adjacent to Begum Rokeya University. The next day, on July 17, he was buried in the family cemetery in Jafarpara Babanpur village of Madankhali Union in Pirganj Upazila of Rangpur.

Abu Sayeed was the Coordinator of Rangpur’s Begum Rokeya University in the anti-discrimination quota reform movement. On July 17, the police filed a case with Tajhat Metropolitan Police Station as the plaintiff. Bibhuti Bhushan Roy, Sub-Inspector of Tajhat Metropolitan Police Station and In-charge of Begum Rokeya University Police Outpost, is the plaintiff in the case.

The brief statement of the case states that at around 2:15 pm, the anti-state agitators named students started firing indiscriminately from various directions, raining down bricks and firing from their nearby firearms. In order to bring the situation under control, the police also fired 169 rounds of rubber bullets from his government-issued shotgun from an APC vehicle, led by Constable/1186 Sohel. The entire university area turned into a battlefield.

The case filed regarding the murder of Abu Sayeed states, "At one point during the firing and throwing of bricks by the agitators from various directions, a student was seen lying on the road. When his classmates caught him and took him to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, the doctor on duty declared him dead. An unknown number of 2 to 3 thousand people were accused in this incident.

Later, on the orders of the Police Headquarters, the case was transferred to the PBI on August 12 of that year. The then Superintendent of Police of Rangpur District PBI, ABM Zakir Hossain, confirmed the matter to reporters. In the investigation of the PBI, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced the two policemen to death and the then VC of Berobi, Dr. Hasibur Rashid, to 10 years in prison, along with other accused, to various terms of imprisonment.

Meanwhile, as part of a month-long program to mark the second martyrdom anniversary of Begum Rokeya University student Shaheed Abu Sayeed, who was the first martyr in the anti-discrimination student movement in Rangpur and caused a nationwide stir, the district administration and Begum Rokeya University, including various political and socio-cultural organizations, have taken up various programs in the divisional city of Rangpur.

As part of the program, Martyr's Day and July 5th, Mass Uprising Day will be observed. Rangpur Begum Rokeya University has organized a visit to the grave of Martyr Abu Sayeed, a condolence rally, wearing of red badges, laying of flowers at the memorial pillar, discussion and memorial service, and a doa mahfil at the central mosque that morning. Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan will be the chief guest at the program organized by Berobi. Shaheed Abu Sayeed's father Mohammad Maqbul Hossain and members of the martyr's family will be the guests of honor at these programs. In addition, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Ashraful Islam, University Grants Commission Member Prof Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun and Editor of Daily Jugantor Poet Abdul Hai Sikder will be special guests at these programs. University VC Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali will preside over the program.

Besides , the district administration Prayer gatherings have been organized in various mosques from the sidelines. For this purpose, a preparatory meeting was held in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner on Monday. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ruhuhul Amin presided over it.