BUET VC, students want quick execution of verdict

Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) talk to newspersons on the campus on 8 December 2021, following the verdict in BUET student Abrar Fahad murder case.
Ashraful Alam

Vice-chancellor (VC), teachers and students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) have welcomed the verdict in BUET student Abrar Fahad murder case and hoped that the verdict would be executed in the shortest possible time.

They expressed their reaction on the verdict separately on Wednesday after the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman sentenced 20 people to death and five others to life in prison in Abrar Fahad murder case on Wednesday.

Following the verdict, BUET VC Satya Prasad Majumder expressed his reaction to newspersons at his office around 1:30pm and BUET students in front of the Shaeed Minar on the campus at 2:10pm.

VC Satya Prasad Majumder said, “The verdict had handed enough punishment. We should keep faith on it and we hope the verdict would be executed in the shortest possible time. Our students must keep in mind if they involve in such crimes in future they must face the maximum punishment.”

BUET has been providing legal and financial assistance to Abrar Fahad’s family as much as possible and it will continue in future, the VC said adding, “We have spent Tk 5.5 million (55 lakh) so far. We have also been giving the family Tk 75,000 a month since 1 July to overcome the financial hardship. We will continue to help from our moral stance.”

When asked whether the BUET can avoid its responsibility on convicted students for being ruined, the VC said, “The judiciary will see it whether the university has any responsibility. We have nothing to say about it. We have been thinking about whether our system has any fault or not. So, our security measures are being strengthened further.”

Later, BUET students read out a written statement to newspersons in front of the Shaeed Minar on the campus. They said, “The verdict in Abrar Fahad murder case has reflected the trust of all. We demand the immediate execution of the verdict and express solidarity to the family of Abrar Fahad. We hope this verdict will be upheld at the higher court and it will be example in the history of Bangladesh.”

The students also demanded the three fugitive convicts in Abrar Fahad murder case will be brought to book soon.

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.