BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday evening visited the grave of Abu Sayed, a Begum Rokeya University student who was killed by police firing during the July Uprising in 2024.

Tarique reached Jafarpara Babonpur village in Pirganj around 6pm and offered fateha at Abu Sayed’s grave.

Later, he spoke to the members of the martyr’s family and expressed his condolences.

BNP Standing Committee member Professor AZM Zahid Hossain and senior leaders of the party’s Rangpur district unit were present at the time.

Speaking to reporters later, Professor Zahid said Tarique offered fateha at Sayed’s grave and prayed for the eternal peace of Abu Sayed, who was martyred during the July student–led mass uprising.

“Paying respect to Abu Sayed is not only a duty of BNP, it is the responsibility of people across the country,” he said.

Zahid said Abu Sayed’s sacrifice inspired millions of people to stand up against autocracy. “On July 16, 2024, Abu Sayeed stood fearlessly against repression at Begum Rokeya University.

His courage showed the nation how to resist oppression, even in the face of bullets,” he said.

Zahid said the long struggle of democratic forces over the past one and a half decades reached a decisive point through Abu Sayed’s martyrdom, which helped unite people from all walks of life and ultimately forced authoritarian forces to flee.

“We must not limit Abu Sayed’s memory only to observing his death anniversary or visiting his grave,” Zahid said. “We must turn the lessons of his sacrifice into action. Only then will his soul truly rest in peace.”

Abu Sayed was shot dead by police on July 16, 2024, at Park Morh near Begum Rokeya University during the quota reform movement.

He was buried at his village home the following day.

Sayed was a student of the 12th batch of the English Department at Begum Rokeya University and one of the key coordinators of the quota reform movement.