The murders that shook Bangladesh in 2019

Bangladesh saw a number of sensational murders that grabbed the newspaper headlines throughout the year of 2019.

Of the tragedies, the killing of Abrar Fahad at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Rifat Sharif in Barguna and Nusrat Jahan Rafi in Feni put the entire nation in shock.

The killing of Taslima Begum Renu in a lynching over the rumour of child kidnapping also shocked the nation.

Abrar Fahad

BUET student Abrar Fahad always stood first in any examination throughout his school and college life which is evident in the results of his SSC and HSC examinations. But the life of such a bright star was cut short brutally at his own university.

Abrar, 21, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department of BUET, was found dead on the stairs of Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university on 7 October after some fellow students and leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) beat him at room-2011 of the dormitory on 6 October night suspecting his link to Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.

The academic activities at BUET remained closed for more than two months as the students went on a movement demanding justice for Abrar. Finally, the BUET authorities expelled 26 students over the murder after police submitted charges in the case.

On 13 November, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) pressed charges against 25 people in the BUET student Abrar Fahad killing case.

Rifat Sharif

Rifat Sharif, 22, was hacked with sharp weapons near the main gate of Barguna Govt College in broad daylight on 26 June. His wife Minni appeared to be trying to protect him during the attack in a CCTV footage that went viral on social media after the incident. He succumbed to his injuries at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barishal.
The incident shook the entire nation.
Twenty-four people were accused in the murder case filed by Rifat’s father. The young man’s wife, Minni, who was initially named as a witness, was later arrested on 16 July and made an accused in the case.

Main accused Sabbir Ahmed alias Nayon Bond was killed in a reported gunfight with law enforcers on 2 July.

The High Court on 29 August granted bail to Minni on conditions that she would remain in her father’s custody and refrain from talking to the media.

Police on 1 September pressed charges against 24 people, including Minni, in the murder case.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi

Nusrat was set on fire on 6 April last on the rooftop of the madrasa she were studying in, allegedly by people loyal to its principal SM Sirajuddoula whom she had accused of sexually harassing her.

She succumbed to her injuries four days later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A case was filed with Sonagazi Police Station on 8 April. Police pressed charges before the court against 16 people on 29 May.

On 24 October, 16 people, including the principal of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa SM Sirajuddoula, were given death penalty for their roles in murdering the madrasa student.

Taslima Begum Renu

Taslima Begum Renu, mother of two children, was beaten to death over a child-lifting rumour at North Badda in the city on 20 July.

The victim went to the area to look for a suitable school for her children when she fell victim to mass beating.

Many witnesses recorded the incident in their mobile phones but no-one tried to rescue her. The video footage went viral on Facebook, triggering widespread outrage.

Thirteen suspects have so far been arrested in a case filed over the lynching.