The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested Shariful Islam, the former proctor of Begum Rokeya University, on Monday night in connection with the murder of Abu Sayed, a student from the university`s English department, who was killed by police gunfire during the anti-discrimination student movement on July 16.

He was arrested in the Alamnagar area of Rangpur at 10:30 pm.

Rangpur PBI’s Superintendent of Police Zakir Hossain said that Shariful, a listed accused in the Abu Sayed murder case, is alleged to have instructed the police to open fire at the scene of the incident.

The PBI SP further stated that on August 18, a case was filed naming 17 individuals, including the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), with an additional 30 to 35 unidentified individuals listed as suspects.

Subsequently, Ramjan Ali filed an additional petition to include the names of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Proctor Shariful Islam, and others in the case. Following a court order, these individuals were added as named accused in the case, the PBI SP added.

Earlier, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Amir Ali and Constable Sujon Chandra Roy, who were dismissed in connection with the Abu Sayed murder case, were arrested. Later, the former IGP was also arrested in connection with the case in Dhaka.