Abrar’s mother asks to take pictures of the killers not hers
"What will you do with my pictures? If you can, find out who killed my son. Take their pictures. Can the administration give my son back?" Rokeya Khatun, mother of Abrar Fahad, the second-year student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) who was killed allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on early Monday, said to the journalists.
BCL is the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Awami League.
The bereaved mother was surrounded by family members and relatives who had no words to condole her. The family was devastated and the relatives were in shock. Abrar's father Barkat Ullah went to Dhaka on Monday morning following the harrowing news.
The grieving people gathering at Abram’s residence on PTI Road did not have a clue as to why such a meritorious student and good boy had been killed. Abrar's mother was crying, 'What did my son do? Why did they kill him in such a manner?' She asked whether the government could hang the murderers.
"I fed my son yesterday (Sunday) with my own hands. I saw him off at the bus stand. I talked to him on the way three or four times and after finally reaching hall at 5pm he called me. I called him several times in the night, but he didn't respond. In the morning, I hear my son is dead."
Abrar Fahad and his brother Abrar Fayaz came home on 28 September on vacation. Abrar wanted to stay till 20 October, but later changed his mind as he could not focus on his studies, family members said. Abrar's mother said that he left Kushtia to prepare for his exams.
"Rumour is being spread that Abrar was a Shibir activist. It’s not true. We are all Awami League supporters. We attend meetings of Hanif (AL joint general secretary)," said Abrar's uncle Mizanur Rahman.
Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah worked as an auditor at BRAC and mother Rokeya Khatun is a kindergarten teacher. Abrar was the elder of two siblings, his younger brother Abrar Fayaz is a second-year HSC student at Dhaka College. Fayaz would stay at the Dhaka College hostel, near the Sher-e-Bangle Hall.
According to the family members, Abrar had no enmity with anyone and his family is a supporter of the ruling party. "Abrar's grandfather is a staunch Awami League supporter from long ago. His father too supports Awami League. Their family is an educated and respectable family of our village. Abrar was a humble boy,” said Anisur Rahman, a local Jubo League leader of Raidanga village in Kumarkhali, Kushtia.
Abrar studied in two Kushtia schools at the primary and secondary level. One of his friends who studied with him at shool, Prince Marif, said, "Abrar was a simple person. He would cry if anyone would even talk loudly with him."
Abrar's school teacher, Khairul Islam, said, "Fahad was bright and quiet. I can't belief such a boy could be killed."
Former students of Kushtia Zila School will form a human chain on Tuesday in front of the school protesting at Abrar's killing.