Photo: BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Aug 8, 2026 (BSS) - In 2024, students in Rajshahi took to the streets, defying fear of bullets and death. On August 5, as the movement neared its final victory, the streets were stained with blood. Young students Sakib Anjum and Ali Raihan lost their lives to gunfire, while many protesters were injured.

The two deaths became a defining moment of the July Uprising in Rajshahi. Following the incidents, 30 cases were filed. Police have so far submitted investigation reports in 21 of them, while investigations into the remaining cases are still underway.

Police said the investigations are being conducted on the basis of sufficient evidence to ensure that no innocent person is harassed.

The murder cases of Sakib Anjum and Ali Raihan have been sent to the International Crimes Tribunal. 

Officials involved in the investigations said the process is taking time as investigators work to identify and reach eyewitnesses, gather adequate video footage and forensic evidence, while some potential witnesses remain hesitant to give statements over security concerns.

In most of the cases, former city mayor A H M Khairuzzaman Liton, Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Dablu Sarkar, along with many leaders and activists of the then Awami League and its associate organisations, have been named as accused. 

In some of the sensational murder cases, charge sheets have been filed against more than a hundred people.

Police said the investigations into two more cases are in the final stage. Efforts are underway to complete the investigations into the remaining cases quickly. The reports are expected to be submitted to the court within the next one to two months.

In the cases where charge sheets have been submitted so far, charges have been brought against around 2,500 accused before the courts. Of them, more than 600 have been arrested, while efforts are underway to arrest the absconding accused.

On August 5, 2024, in the afternoon, Barendra University student Sakib Anjum was killed. According to eyewitnesses, he took shelter in a house in a bullet-wounded condition, where he later died. 

In the same incident, Rajshahi College student Ali Raihan was shot in the head. He died at a hospital four days later, on August 8. 

Sakib Anjum's father Mainul Islam said, "Our family does not want any revenge, we only want proper justice through the law. Those who have committed crimes should be brought under the law and punished - this is now our only demand."

Sakib's mother Rokeya Khatun said, "I will never get my son back. But if those who killed my son are brought to justice, I will get some peace at least as a mother. Every day is painful for us. If the state wants to stand by the families of martyrs, then the biggest consolation will be to bring the killers to swift justice."

Rana Islam, brother of martyred Rajshahi College student Ali Raihan, said, "The main goal of the July Uprising was to establish people's rights and build a discrimination-free Bangladesh. We want swift justice to be ensured not just for our family, but for the family of every person killed in the July movement."

Mehedi Sojib, the then coordinator of Rajshahi University, said, "Many gave their lives in the movement, countless people were injured. To properly value their sacrifice, there is no alternative to ensuring swift justice. If justice is delayed, a wrong message will be sent to future generations."

RMP spokesperson and Deputy Police Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said, "Only those against whom specific information and evidence of involvement found in video footage have been found were included in the charge sheets of the cases."

He said that under the leadership of the Police Commissioner, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) is always trying to stay in touch with the members of the martyred families.

He also said that RMP is always ready to provide them with all necessary legal assistance.

Ali Ashraf Masum, Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, said, "Judicial activities have been somewhat delayed as several judicial posts in our Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court have been vacant for a long time."

However, he said that hearings are currently being held according to the cause list of the cases. He expressed hope that it will be possible to quickly complete the judicial proceedings of the cases that are currently under trial.