A special tribunal in Dhaka today sentenced 20 people to death and life imprisonment to another five in a case lodged over the murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad.    Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 pronounced the judgement in the crowded courtroom this noon. The judge started reading out the short judgement at 12 noon and finished at around 12.12 pm.    The 20 convicts, who were sentenced to death are- Mehedi Hasan Russel, Anik Sarker Opu, Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Md Mehedi Hasan Robin, Md Meftahul Islam Jeon, Muntassir Alam Jemmy, Khandaker Tabakkharul Islam Tanvir, Md Muzahidur Rahman, Md Moniruzzaman Monir, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md Mazedur Rahman Mazed, Shamim Billah, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Md Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, SM Mahmud Setu, Morshed Amatya Islam, Morsheduzzaman Jisan, Mostaba Rafid and Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim. Of the 20, the last three are yet to be arrested and were tried in absentia.    The tribunal also sentenced Muhtasim Fuad, Moaj Abu Hurayra, Istiak Ahammed Munna, Amit Saha and Md Akash Hossain to life imprisonment. The court also fined those Taka 50 thousand each, to suffer one year more behind the bars in default.    The tribunal in its observation said the convicts tortured and subsequently killed Abrar based on the false allegation of being an activist of Shibir (Islami Chhatra Shibir).    "That brutal incident saddened the people of the whole country. The convicts are being given maximum punishments to stop repetition of such heinous incident," the court said.    Abrar's father and plaintiff of the case Barkatullah, who was present at the courtroom during the pronouncement of the judgement, expressed satisfaction over the verdict and hoped that it would be upheld by the High Court also.    "We want quick execution of the judgement," he said.    Barkatullah also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Law Minister Anisul Huq, lawyers, police and other concerned parties for the quick disposal of the case and the judgement.    Chief Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kazal in his initial reaction said the prosecution is satisfied by this judgement as it would help to get rid of the stigma of this brutal killing at an educational institute.    Earlier police brought the 22 accused, who have been arrested so far, from Keraniganj Central Jail to the court at around 9.20 am and kept them at the lockup amid heightened security. They were produced at the courtroom at around 11.42 am.    The tribunal on November 14 had set November 28 to pronounce the judgement in the case as both the prosecution and defence concluded their closing arguments on that day. But on November 28, the tribunal deferred the pronouncement of the judgement till today as the verdict was not prepared.    Earlier on September 8, the tribunal had framed charges in the case afresh allowing a prosecution plea.    A total 46 out of 60 prosecution witnesses have testified in the sensational case.    Earlier on November 13, 2019, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court took into cognizance the charge sheet in the case filed by Detective Branch (DB) of police against 25 accused. The case was later transferred to the speedy trial tribunal, allowing a plea of Abrar's father.    The tribunal on September 15, 2020, had framed charges against all 25 accused in the case. Of those arrested, eight had given confessional statements before the court.    BUET students and the varsity authorities found the seemingly lifeless body of Abrar, 22, on first-floor stairs of Sher-e-Bangla Hall and rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared him dead at around 6.30 am on October 7, 2019.    He was brutally beaten to death by a couple of leaders of the then BUET unit of Chhatra League over his posts on Facebook.    Abrar's father Barkatullah filed the case with Chawkbazar Police Station against 19. Source: BSS AH

Twenty-two accused in BUET student Abrar Fahad murder case, expressed no-confidence on the judge of the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 on Thursday. No-confidence pleas said that the depositions of witnesses were recorded in the case for a second time illegally which has triggered doubts over proper justice. Besides, the Tribunal prosecutor Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan said the accused have filed no-confidence pleas against Tribunal Judge Abu Jafar Md Kamruzzaman to prolong the trial process. The Tribunal has fixed December 6 to hear the matter, he said. So far, depositions of 40 witnesses among 60 have been recorded in the case. On Sep 15, charges were framed against 25 accused in the murder case. Abrar, 21, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was beaten to death reportedly by then Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university. He was found dead on the staircase of the hall in the early hours of October 7 after he was taken to room No-2011 around 8pm on October 6 and beaten mercilessly. His murder sparked nationwide outcry. On November 13, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) submitted a charge sheet before the court. On November 18 last, the court accepted the chargesheet against 25 accused. On January 13, the case was shifted to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court from Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court. On March 12 this year, Abrar murder case was shifted to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 after his parents met the Law Minister and urged to shift the case to a Speedy Trial Tribunal. Source: UNB AH

Law Minister Anisul Huq said, the trial of BUET student Abrar murder case will be held in speedy trial tribunal. He said this in response to a question of the newsmen at his office at the secretariat on Wednesday after submission of the charge sheet in connection with the murder case. Abrar Fahad, was beaten to death by some Chhatra League activists on the campus in the night of October 6. Anisul Huq said, the society will not accept such type of incident like Abrar murder case. We will not accept it. Exemplary trial has to be taken place. It has to be ensured that such type of incident should not take place in future. He said, through trial of the murder case a message should be disseminated to the people that criminals get punishment. The Law Minister said, after submission of the charge sheet before the court the prosecution team has to perform its duty. Earlier I said that a prosecution team will be prepared so that the judicial process would proceed. I have prepared the team according to the plan. There are some formalities after submission of the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court. I would ask the prosecution team to take responsibilities by Monday. About the time frame of the speedy trial the minister said, the allocated primary time is 90 days. In the second phase there is 30 days time. If the trial is not completed within this 120 days then 15 days time is allocated. The trial has to be completed in this 135 days. About the absconding accused he said, if they do not surrender in the stipulated time given by the court then notice will be given on the newspapers. Even after that if they do not surrender then the court will deliver order to run the trial in absconding condition. Earlier, a team of Detective Branch police submitted the charge sheet of the case before the court accusing 25 people. BUET student Abrar Fahad was brutally beaten to death by some Chhatra League activists on October 6. AH  

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch police have submitted charge sheet before the court accusing 25 people in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad murder case. Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md. Monirul Islam informed this at a press conference held at DMP Media Center on Wednesday. Monirul Islam said, involvement of 25 BUET students has been found in this sensational murder case. 11 were in the FIR list and 6 out of the FIR. 11 were directly involved in the killing. Others were in the planning. The charge sheet enlisted accused are: Mehedi Hasan Rasel, Anik Sarkar, Mehedi Hasan Robin, Ifti Mosharraf Sokal, Moniruzzaman Monir, Meftahul Islam Jion, Amit Saha, Majedul Islam, Mujahidur Rahman, Tabakharul Islam Tanvir, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md. Jishan, Akash Hossain, Shamim Billah, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim, Md. Morshed, Moaz Abu Horayra, Muntasir Al Jemi, Mizanur Rahman, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, Ishtiaq Ahmed Munna, Moshtuba Rafi and SM Mahmud Setu. Jishan, Tanim, Morshed, Moshtuba Rafi are absconding. Mentionable, Abrar, a second year student of electrical and electronics department and also a residential student of BUET Sher-e-Bangla Hall was tortured to death in the night of October 6. On the following day Abrar’s father filed a case with Chawkbazar police student accusing 19 people. While going through investigation police arrested 21 people and of them 16 were FIR enlisted. Eight of the accused gave confessional statement before the court, who all were leaders and activists of BUET unit Chhatra League. AH

Investigators are working to submit charge sheet in Buet student Abrar Fahad killing case within this week, Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, said Friday. “A flawless charge sheet will be submitted within the first week of November,” he said while addressing a shadow parliament debate competition at FDC in the city. Debate for Democracy organized the competition titled ‘Who is responsible for Abrar killing: student politics or moral degradation?’ Terming Abrar killing a tragic incident, Monirul said everyone involved in the murder are miscreants and offenders. Abrar, 21, a second-year electrical and electronic engineering student, was beaten to death reportedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university on October 7. BCL later expelled a number of its leaders over the killing. So far, 22 people have been arrested in the case and most of them already confessed before the court to their involvement in the murder. Monirul, in the debate competition, said the real meritorious are those who have values as well as responsibilities towards the country, people, society and family. Government Bangla College won the debate as the opposition party in the shadow parliament defeating Tejgaon College. Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran, chairman of Debate for Democracy, chaired the competition. Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said she has directed the Law Minister to look for a way for the quick disposal of the Abrar Fahad murder case. "I’ve already asked the Law Minister to find out a way for the quick disposal of the case (Abrar Fahad killing)," she said. The Prime Minister said this while the family members of Abrar Fahad met her at her official residence Ganabhaban. PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. Abrar's Father Barkat Ullah and mother Rokeya Khatun expressed their profound gratitude to the Prime Minister as she is dealing with the matter from the position of a mother. They said they do not have any word to express their gratitude for playing the role from the position of a mother. They also expressed their gratitude to the administration, police and the people of the country for their all-out support and cooperation. After the incident, Hasina said, they did not see who belong to which party. "I don't want to see who belongs to which party. To me, killers are just killers, criminals are just criminals," she said. The Prime Minister said she does not have the words to console them as what they have lost. "Please look at me, I’ve lost everything in just one night, I understand the pain of losing close ones."  Hasina said the killers are not human being. "How they could kill a person with whom they were sitting and studying [every day]!" she said. After the incident, the Prime Minister said, police personnel were directed to collect the CCTV footage. "But it’s not clear to me why some of the Buet students created obstacles towards collection of the footage," she said. PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim said that on arrival of the Prime Minister at the meeting room, Abrar's mother embraced her and burst into tears. The Prime Minister held her with great affection for some time and sat down beside her instead of her designated chair. Abrar Fahad's brother Abrar Faiz, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, joint secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Kusthia Sadar upazila AL general secretary and upazila chairman Ataur Rahman were, among others, at the meeting. Abrar, a second-year student of Buet’s electrical and electronic engineering department, was beaten to death by a group of BCL men at the university’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall on October 7. Later, his father filed a murder case against 19 Buet students, mostly BCL leaders of the Buet unit, and several other unnamed accused with Chawkbazar Police Station. Source: UNB AH

Another accused Mujahidur Rahman Mujahid has given confessional statement before the court in connection with BUET student Abrar Fahad murder case. Mujahid is a third year student of electrical and electronic engineering department and was also a member of BUET unit Chhatra League. Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Nivana Khayer Jessy recorded hid statement on Sunday. Mujahid is among the ten people who were arrested just after the killing of Abrar that happened on October 6. BUET student Ifti Mosharraf Sokal, Meftahul Islam Jion and Anik Sarkar earlier gave confessional statement before the court in connection with the murder case. Abrar Fahad, a student of electrical and electronic engineering department, was beaten to death at Sher-e-Bangla Hall in BUET in the night of October 6. Most of the accused in the case were Chhatra League leaders and activists. AH

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Mia Seppo apparently to seek explanation regarding UN statement over the murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad. The ministry also explained the government position and the "prompt actions" taken so far and being taken since the killing. Seppo spent over half an hour with Director General of the UN Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nahida Sobhan from 11am, said a source at the ministry. She, however, did not make any comment after the meeting. Seppo was conveyed that Abrar killing should not be tagged with the issues of any freedom of expression. Another official said it was part of regular meetings, and both discussed various issues, including that of Abrar Fahad murder. Bangladesh made two things clear to the UNRC at the meeting saying the government did not stop anybody from expressing their views on various platforms, said sources at the ministry. Following the murder of Abrar, the UN in a statement said it deplores the killing of a young BUET student, "allegedly for freely expressing his views." Abrar Fahad, 21, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering, was beaten to death on October 7 reportedly by Chhatra League leaders at BUET's Sher-e-Bangla Hall. Abrar's father, Barkatullah, filed a case with Chawkbazar Police Station on Monday evening against 19 people. So far, 19 people, including 14 FIR-listed accused, have been arrested in the case. On Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government wants to maintain academic atmosphere in all the educational institutions of the country and will not tolerate any act of unjust and injustice. "Our message is very clear…we won’t tolerate any act of unjust and injustice. We never did that in past and won’t do either in the future. We’ll take action against whoever will commit any act of unjust and injustice. The academic atmosphere must be maintained in all the educational institutions," she said. The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh in a statement on Wednesday said freedom of speech is a human right, and nobody should be harassed, tortured or killed for exercising it. “The UN Bangladesh noted steps taken by the authorities to apprehend alleged perpetrators,” the statement reads, adding “It encourages independent investigations that should lead to justice being served in a fair process, and measures to ensure prevention of further incidents.” It mentioned that campus violence in Bangladesh has over the years affected and claimed too many lives, with apparent impunity for those bearing responsibility. Source: UNB AH

The court has granted five-day remand for arrested BUET unit Chhatra League law affairs deputy secretary Amit Saha and another student Hossain Mohammad Toha in connection with Abrar Fahad murder case. Police produced them before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Friday. At that time the Investigation Officer of the case and Detective Branch Inspector Wahiduzzaman appealed for ten-day remand for the accused. After the hearing Metropolitan Magistrate Sarafuzzaman Ansari granted five-day remand. Mentionable, more 12 arrested accused are also in remand for beating BUET student Abrar Fahad to death. Meanwhile, BUET electrical and electronics engineering department student Abrar’s dead body was recovered at around 3 am on Sunday. It was known that on that night Abrar was beaten to death by some Chhatra League leaders in the room number 2011. In the autopsy report the physician mentioned that there were number of wound marks on Abrar’s dead body. After the incident, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case on Monday evening with Chawkbazar police station accusing 19 people.   AH   

Police have arrested Hossain Mohammad Toha, the number 11 accused in the BUET student Abrar Fahad murder case. He was arrested from Mauna area under Shreepur upazila of Gazipur district on Thursday noon. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Masudur Rahman confirmed the information. Earlier in the morning police arrested three other BUET students Amit Saha, Mizanur Rahman Mizan and Arafat. Meanwhile, DMP Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam said, Amit Saha was detained for his involvement in the killing. Besides, Mizanur and Arafat were detained as there is information of association with the killing. Monirul Islam said, the names of Amit, Mizanur and Arafat were not mentioned in the case report but after getting information about their involvement in the killing they were arrested. The Detective Branch arrested Amit from Sabujbag area in the capital at around 11 am on Thursday. Then Mizanur was arrested. Amit Saha’s name was much discussed and came in front after the murder of Abrar. He was the deputy secretary of legal affairs of BUET unit Chhatra League. He went on hiding after the murder. Abrar was first beaten in his room. Mentionable, Abrar Fahad was murdered due to his facebook status against the agreement signed between Bangladesh and India. He gave a status on social media facebook on Saturday afternoon opposing the agreement with India. As a result Abrar was called from his 1011 number room to room number 2011 and was beaten severely. At one stage he died. Accused of Abrar Fahad murder according to the case report: Mehedi Hasan (chemical engineering department, 13th batch), Muhtasim Fuad (14th batch CE department), Anik Sarkar (15th batch), Mehedi Hasan Robin (chemical department 15th batch), Ifti Mosharraf Hossain (biomedical engineering, 16th batch), Moniruzzaman Monir (water resource department, 16th batch), Meftahul Islam Jion (marine engineering, 15th batch), Majedul Islam (MME department, 17th batch), Mozahidul (EEE department, 16th batch), Tanvir Ahmed (ME department, 16th batch), Hossain Mohammad Toha (ME department, 17th batch), Zisan (EEE department, 16th batch), Akash (CE department, 16th batch), Shamim Billah (marine engineering department, 17th batch), Shadat (ME department, 17th batch), Tanim (CE department, 17th batch), Morshed (ME department, 17th batch), Moyaz, Montasir Al Jemmy (MI department). AH