20 to die, 5 get life term for Abrar murder

A Dhaka court sentenced 20 accused to death and five to life imprisonment in the murder case of Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)

Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman, judge of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 announced the verdict on Wednesday.

Abrar Fahad, a 2nd year student of BUET’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League activists at a dormitory of the university on October 7 in 2019.

The accused are: Mehedi Hasan Russel, Muhtasim Fuad, Mehedi Hasan Robein, Anik Sarkar Apu, Moniruzzaman Monir, Meftahul Islam Zion, Ishtiaq Ahmed Munna, Ifti Mosharraf Shokal, Amit Saha, Mustaba Rafid, Mujahidur Rahman Mujahid, Muntasir Al Jemi, Ehtashamul Rabbi Tanim, Khandaker Tabakkarul Islam Tanvir, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Majedur Rahman alias Majed, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Akash Hossain, Shamim Billah, Moaz Abu Hurayra, Mizanur Rahman Mizan, SM Mahmud Setu, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, Muhammad Morshed-Uz-Zaman Mondol and Morshed Amartya Islam.

Mustaba, Jishan and Tanim are absconding since the incident, while the rest are now imprisoned.

The 22 accused were produced before the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj at around 11.45am.

On the early hours of October 7 of 2019, Abrar Fahad died as he was severely beaten allegedly by some Chhatra League men at Sher-e-Bangla hall of the BUET. Later, Barkat Ullah, father of Abrar, filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station against the BCL leaders and activists of BUET on the same day.

Following the incident, the BUET authorities banned all types of political activities on the campus on October 11. Later, onNovember 21, they expelled 25 BUET students for their involvement with the murder.

On November 13 that year, a charge sheet was submitted to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court by Detective Branch Inspector Md Wahiduzaman against the 25 accused. The tribunal framed charges against all the 25 accused on September 15 in 2020. 

The court also recorded statements of 46 witnesses among the 60 witnesses in the case, and delivered the verdict on Wednesday.