Rokeya Khatun, mother of Abrar Fahad, who was beaten to death on the Buet campus in 2019, has said she wants a speedy execution of the judgement.  

“I want the judgement to be executed fast. I’ll get justice for my son’s killing when the verdict is executed. With full respect for the rule of law, I would like to say I also want death penalty of Amit Saha,” she said.

Rokeya Khatun came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at her PTI Road residence in Kushtia on Wednesday after a Dhaka court sentenced 20 people to death and five others to life imprisonment in Abrar murder case.

“I’m happy with the death sentence of 20 people. But Amit Saha was involved in the killing and I want his capital punishment, too. Why didn't the court give him the highest punishment as he was the order giver of the brutal killing,” she said.

READ: 20 to die for killing Buet student Abrar

“How mercilessly they killed my son? After the death of my son, I just prayed to the Almighty Allah seeking justice,” Rokeya lamented.

Abrar’s other family members also expressed satisfaction over the verdict but they also demanded capital punishment of the five convicts who got life term in jail.

Abrar Fayaz, younger brother of Abrar and an HSC examinee, said “Amit during his conversation over phone with the culprits instructed them to beat Abrar for two hours more. He was not present at the killing scene but issued others over mobile phone. Even though we’re happy over the verdict but we expected Amit’s capital punishment.”

Judgement  

Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court sentenced 20 young men to death and five others to life imprisonment for killing 21-year-old student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Abrar Fahad in October, 2019.

Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 handed down the punishment to the 25 men after holding them guilty of second-year engineering student Abrar Fahad's murder. Three of the convicts were tried in absentia.

Those sentenced to death are Mehedi Hassan Rasel, Muntasir Al Jemi, Tabakhkharul Islam Tanvir, Mohammad Sadat, Mizanur Rahman, Samsul Arefin Rafat, Md Shamem Billah, Mazedur Rahman, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Moniruzzaman Monir, Mehedi Hasan Robin, Muzahidur Rahman Muzahid, Anik Sarker, Meftahul Islam Zion, Ifti Mosharraf Shakal, Mahmud Setu, Morshed Amartya Islam, Morshedzamman alias Jisan, Ahtesamul Rabbi Tanim and Muztaba Rafid.

READ: Abrar murder case verdict deferred to Dec 8 

Of them, Jisan, Tanim and Rafid are still absconding. On the other hand, Muhtasim Fuad, Md Akash Hossain, Amit Shaha, Ishtiak Ahmed and Mohamad Moaj were sentenced to life in jail. The court also imposed a fine of Tk 50,000 on each of them.

On November 28, the tribunal deferred till December 8 the pronouncement of the judgment in the case.

Police produced the 22 men in the court. Also present in the court was Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah. "I’m happy with the judgment and demand the execution of the 20 at the earliest," he told the media outside the court.

How Abrar was killed 

Abrar was beaten to death by Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders at Sher-e-Bangla Hall in 2019.

He was found dead on the staircase of the hall in the early hours of October 7, after he was taken to room No-2011 around 8pm on October 6 and beaten mercilessly.

On October 7, an FIR for murder was lodged at the Chawkbazar police station against 19 people, following a complaint from Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah.

On November 13, 2019, Detective Branch (DB) inspector and investigation officer of the case Wahiduzzaman submitted a chargesheet against the 25 accused. 

On September 15, 2020, the court framed charges against the accused. The court recorded statements of 47 of the 60 witnesses in the case. 

On March 14, this year, the 22 arrestees in the case pleaded "not guilty".