A Dhaka court on Wednesday awarded death sentence to 20 while five were handed life time imprisonment in BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) student Abrar Fahad murder case.
The court of judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 pronounced the verdict.
In 2019, Abrar Fahad, 21, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering department of BUET, was beaten to death by 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 7 October after he was taken to room No-2011 of the dormitory around 8:00pm on 6 October and beaten mercilessly.
On 7 October, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case with the Chawkbazar police station in the capital.
On 13 November, 2019, Detective Branch (DB) inspector and investigation officer of the case, Wahiduzzaman, submitted the charge sheet against 25. Later, on 15 September, 2020, the court framed charges against the accused.
Among the accused 22 were brought at the court while three are on the run.
Those who were sentenced to death are – Mehedi Hasan Rasel, Md Anik Sarker, Mehedi Hasan Robin, Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Md Moniruzzaman Monir, Md Meftahul Islam Zion, Md Mazedur Rahman Mazed, Md Mujahidur Rahman, Khandaker Tabakkarul Islam Tanvir, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md Shamim Billah, ASM Najmus Sadat, Morshed Amartya Islam, Muntasir Al Jemi, Md Shamsul Arefin Rafat, Md Mizanur Rahman, Morshed-uj-Jaman Mandal Jishan, Mujtaba Rafid and Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim and SM Mahmud Setu.
Among them, Morshed-uj-Jaman Mandal Jishan, Mujtaba Rafid and Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim remained absconding.
And, those who were sentenced to life time imprisonment are -- Muhtasim Fuad Hossain, Md Akash Hossain, Muaz Abu Huraira, Amit Saha and Ishtiaque Ahmed Munna.
Earlier, speaking to Prothom Alo, public prosecutor Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan said out of 60 witnesses the state produced 46 before the court to prove the allegations. On 14 November the court fixed 28 November for announcing the verdict.
He further said they have pleaded for highest punishment of the 25 accused.
On 28 November, the court shifted the date for pronouncing the verdict to 8 December.
The case statement said, “The accused have beaten Abrar to death brutally falsely alleging him an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir.”
While deposing at the court, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah said the accused had beaten his son in a planned way with cricket stump, sticks, and rope. That is why his son died. Later, the accused dumped the body at the staircase of the first floor.
Mosharraf Hossain Kazal, Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan, Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, Prashanta Kumar Karmaker, Mizanur Rahman, Alamgir Hossain, Shohidul Islam, and Mashir Rahman represented the state while Mahabub Ahmed, Aminul Gani, Gazi Zillur Rahmann Azizur Rahman and Faruq Ahmed were the defence lawyers.