Family members of Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) who was killed due to torture by leaders and activists of the banned organisation Chhatra League, have met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Around 5pm on Thursday, Abrar Fahad’s father Md Barkat Ullah, mother Rokeya Khatun, younger brother Abrar Faiyaz, a maternal uncle, and a paternal uncle met the prime minister at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat.
During the meeting, the prime minister spoke with the family members and inquired about their overall well-being.
During the meeting, Abrar Fahad’s father sought the prime minister’s cooperation in swiftly completing the judicial process of his son’s murder case and executing the verdict.
In response, Tarique said the case is currently pending before the higher court. Assuring that the court would complete the judicial proceedings independently, he promised that all necessary cooperation would be provided to the family from the government’s side.
Abrar’s father also placed a demand before the prime minister to construct a bridge over the Garai River in Kushtia. He said around 40,000 to 50,000 people in that area cross the river using a bamboo bridge.
At that time, the prime minister gave assurance regarding the construction of the bridge and promised to name it after Abrar Fahad.
Besides, he sought the prime minister’s cooperation to complete the paved construction work of Abrar Fahad’s grave and the construction of the adjacent mosque. Regarding this, Tarique issued directives to complete the construction work of the mosque immediately.
During the meeting, Abrar’s father also raised the issue of the absconding accused in his son’s murder case. He informed that the family was notified about an accused in the Abrar murder case escaping from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail nearly six months after the incident.
He demanded that the accused who escaped from prison and those who have not yet been arrested be brought under the law swiftly.
Drawing the prime minister’s attention so that no other mother’s lap is emptied in this manner, Abrar’s mother Rokeya Khatun said, “The boys and girls on every campus are children of some mother like me. I want that the atmosphere of the past should not return to any campus. No mother’s lap should be emptied like mine in this way.”
During the meeting, Abrar Fahad’s younger brother Abrar Faiyaz invited the prime minister to visit Buet campus. At the same time, he placed a demand to construct a new residential hall named after Abrar Fahad at Buet.
In response to this demand, the prime minister spoke immediately with the education secretary. Simultaneously, Abrar Faiyaz also demanded the inclusion of Abrar Fahad’s incident in textbooks to inform the new generation about him.
Abrar Faiyaz further told the prime minister that a list of those killed in the July Movement had been prepared by the government. He demanded that a list also be compiled of those who, like Abrar Fahad, were killed at various times prior to that.
Regarding this matter, the prime minister informed that a project in this context is under process at the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and work on it is ongoing.
Central President of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir were also present during the meeting.
Seven years ago, on the night of 6 October 2019, Buet student Abrar Fahad was called to room number 2011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall and beaten to death. Abrar’s home is in Raidanga village of Kaya Union under Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia.
On 5 October, the day before the murder, Abrar posted on Facebook criticizing several agreements and memorandums signed during the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India.
He raised questions regarding Bangladesh’s relations with India over the opportunity to use Mongla Port, water from the Feni River, and gas export.
The following night, several leaders of Chhatra League called him to the hall, questioned him regarding the Facebook post, and at one point beat him up. Later, when he lost consciousness, he was left on the stairs of the hall.
Post-mortem examination revealed evidence of severe injuries and internal bleeding on his body caused by excessive beating.
Following the murder, protests erupted across various universities in the country, including Buet. Students pressed a 10-point demand, including punishment for the killers.
On 7 October, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a case against 19 individuals at Chawkbazar Police Station. Following investigation, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police submitted a charge sheet against 25 people.
On 8 December 2021, Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 sentenced 20 accused to death and five others to life imprisonment in its verdict. On 16 March 2025, the High Court upheld the verdict.
Subsequently, nine accused whose death sentences were upheld filed appeals before the Appellate Division against the High Court’s verdict.
One convict sentenced to life imprisonment also filed a leave to appeal. The case is currently pending before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
