20 to die for killing Buet student Abrar

The Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 has sentenced 20 accused and five to life imprisonment in Buet student Abrar Fahad murder case.

Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamruzzaman of the tribunal pronounced the judgement on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, twenty-two accused of Buet student Abrar Fahad murder case were taken to the court from Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj.

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 Chhtra Shibir).

Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of electrical and electronics engineering (EEE) department of Buet, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League men at the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall on October 7 in 2019.

The incident triggered a firestorm of protests across the country. Amid protests, BCL expelled 12 leaders of the Buet unit from the organisation for breaching its discipline.

Following the widespread protests, the Buet authorities  on October 11 banned all political activities on the campus and expelled 25 students, mostly BCL leaders and activists, from the university in connection with the murder.

Abrar's father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station against 19 Buet BCL leaders and activists on October 7.

On November 13 of that year, Inspector Md Wahiduzaman of Detective Branch submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court against 25 accused.

Earlier, the tribunal set November 28 for delivering the judgment. But later, it was reset for December 8.