A Dhaka court on Wednesday awarded death sentence to 20 while five others 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.
While pronouncing the verdict, the judge said the accused were awarded capital punishment to stop repetition of brutal murder.
The verdict said Abrar Fahad was beaten to death falsely alleging him an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir.
Expressing satisfaction with the verdict, slain Abrar Fahad’s father Barkat Ullah said he will be more satisfied when the High Court will uphold the verdict and it will be implemented.
Abrar’s father and other family members were present at the court to hear the verdict.
BUET vice chancellor professor Satya Prasad Majumder also expressed his satisfaction with the verdict. He hoped the verdict will be implemented following all the legal process speedily.
“I think the highest punishment has been served,” the BUET VC said.
“We should keep faith in the judiciary. We think they have awarded the verdict after going through everything meticulously. The trial has been completed at the speedy trial tribunal at the directives of the prime minister. We want the verdict to be implemented soon after following every legal process,” he added.
However, students who staged demonstrations seeking justice after the murder of Abrar Fahad did not say anything formally. Wishing not to be named, several students apprehended whether the verdict will be implemented soon or not.
One of the spokespersons of the movement was Mahmudur Rahman, a student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering department of BUET.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, he said the students will hold a meeting in afternoon. A formal reaction will be made about the verdict after that, he added.
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.