United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday directed the authorities to prepare a list of people killed in attacks carried out by ‘terrorists’ of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami League and its other affiliated bodies. The list should also cover the deaths by state forces under the previous government’s instruction, in the 15 years before the 2024 July mass uprising. The directive came when the family members of BUET student Abrar Fahad, who was beaten to death by alleged Chhatra League activists, met the Chief Adviser in afternoon, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. Abrar’s father Mohammad Barkat Ullah younger brother Abrar Fayaz and maternal uncle Mohammad Mofazzal Hossain met Prof Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna. During the meeting, Abrar’s family members requested the Chief Adviser to prepare a list of the people killed in the attacks carried out by Awami League and its terrorists before the 2024 mass uprising and also initiate investigations into every incident of political killings. Yunus welcomes UN's expert support over probe into enforced disappearances Barkat Ullah also requested the chief adviser to take initiative for expediting the trial in Abrar Fahad murder case. “He (Abrar Fahad) was brutally beaten to death by terrorists because he spoke for the country. He raised his voice for the interest of the country and against unjust water-sharing treaty,” said Barkat Ullah. Noting that Abrar’s mother still cries for the loss of her son every day, he said “No mother should ever have to bear the pain of losing a child.” Barkat Ullah requested the chief adviser to take steps to construct a bridge over the Gorai River in Kushtia as the locals have been demanding the bridge for a long time to address the sufferings of 30,000 people. Abrar Fayaz, a third-year student of BUET, urged the interim government to take steps to make all educational institutions more student-friendly. "Our educational institutions are still not student-friendly. There is a shortage of labs, equipment and other facilities required for studies. We have high expectations from the interim government. We want this government to take steps to make educational institutions student-friendly," he said. He also called for strict action to prevent ragging on BUET campus. "This is not the first incident of persecution at BUET. It happened before as well. The incidents that happened before need to be investigated and prosecuted," he added. Commission on enforced disappearances to be formed soon: Law Adviser The Chief Adviser said the brutal killing of Abrar Fahad had shocked the entire nation and pledged that justice must be delivered. “A list of those killed in the attacks by terrorists of Awami League and its affiliated organisations before the July 24th mass uprising will be prepared and each incident will be investigated. In addition, investigations are underway into the killings that were committed using state forces on the orders of the then government. The government has already taken action," he said.

Rokeya Khatun, mother of Buet student Abrar Fahad, demanded execution of the High Court verdict soon and arrest of the fugitive convicts immediately. Rokeya Khatun came up with her remarks while talking to reporters at PTI road in Kushtia district town after the pronouncement of the judgment. Rokeya, Abrar’s grandfather Abdul Gafur Biswas, her maternal aunts Nilu and Momtaz Begum expressed satisfaction over the HC verdict. "I am happy with the verdict of the High Court today. Not only us, but people all over the country are happy. The court upheld the verdict announced in 2022. When the verdict was first announced the people of the country expressed satisfaction. I express my gratitude to the current government, judiciary, students, journalists and the country’s people. Six years after his death, no one has forgotten my son.” she said. All educational institutions of the country should be free from ragging so that all educational institutions become safe, she said. The High Court on Sunday upheld the trial court’s verdict confirming the death penalty for 20 students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and life imprisonment for five others in the sensational Abrar Fahad murder case. A High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the verdict in a jam-packed courtroom. Of the total 25 accused in the case, five are on the run. On December 8, 2021, a Dhaka court sentenced 20 Buet students to death and handed life imprisonment to five others for their involvement in the murder. HC upholds death sentences for 20 Buet students in Abrar Fahad murder case Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Buet’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department, was beaten to death on October 6, 2019, allegedly by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Sher-e-Bangla Hall. The attack was reportedly triggered by a Facebook post Abrar had made about water-sharing issues between Bangladesh and India. His body was later found on the dormitory’s staircase. The following day, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah, filed a murder case at Chawkbazar Police Station. The incident sparked nationwide outrage, leading to widespread protests.

The prosecution on Sunday sought capital punishment for all the 25 accused in BUET student Abrar Fahad’s murder case. Chief prosecutor in the case Mosharraf Hossain Kajal made the appeal to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 Judge Abu Zafar Mohammad Kamruzzaman while presenting the closing arguments. Mosharraf Hossain said, “This killing is not a small incident. They waited for Abrar’s return from village. Then they set a court inside the university’s hall and started punishing him. They were so angry at the boy that they finally thrashed him to death.” He said, “We are not for outrage but we want justice.” The court can consider if anyone is innocent but those who are convicted must get exemplary punishment in this case, said prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain. The prosecutor said, “Abrar’s family is still crying. We want such punishment so that his mother can say justice has been served to her.” Followed by the prosecution defense lawyer Abdus Sobahan Tarafdar started presenting the closing arguments. The court was adjourned amid the arguments and set Monday to hear the remaining arguments of the defense. Twenty-two of the incarcerated accused in this were produced before the court during the hearing. In 2019, Abrar, 21, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering, was beaten to death by then 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 October 7 after he was taken to room No-2011 around 8pm on October 6 and beaten mercilessly. Also read: 25 indicted for Buet student Abrar Murder His murder sparked nationwide outcry. On October 7, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case with the Chawkbazar police station accusing 19 people. On November 13, 2019, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector and investigation officer of the case Wahiduzzaman submitted the charge sheet accusing 25. On September 15, 2020, Court started trial of the case by framing charges against the 25 accused. The court recorded statement of 47 witnesses among the 60 witnesses in the case. On March 14, this year, the arrested 22 accused in the case claimed their innocence while testifying in self-defense. Three of the accused – Jishan, Rafid and Tanim – remained absconding. On September 7, 2021 the prosecution appealed for reframing the charges against the accused as few things were missed out the first time. On September 8, indicted the accused afresh and also fixed September 14 for submitting their statements in self-defense. On September 14, the 22 accused declared their innocence again in their statement in self-defense.

A Dhaka tribunal on Wednesday framed charges against 25 accused in the case filed in connection with the killing of Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Judge Abu Zafar Mohammad Kamruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 indicted the accused afresh and also fixed September 14 for submitting their statements in self-defence. The court granted the application and re-framed charges against the defendants following an appeal by the prosecution filed by the public prosecutor Abu Abdulla Bhuyian. PP Abdulla confirmed the information to the press. “A few things were missed out during the formation of the complaint. Hence we applied to indict the accused again,” he added. Abrar, 21, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering, was beaten to death reportedly by then Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university. Also read: 25 indicted for Buet student Abrar Murder 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. His murder sparked nationwide outcry. Later, Abrar's father filed a case with Chawkbazar police station over the matter. On Sep 15 2019 , charges were framed against 25 accused in the murder case.

Twenty-two accused in Buet student Abrar Fahad murder case, expressed no-confidence on the judge of the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 on Thursday.

The trial in Buet student Abrar Fahad murder case began Monday with the deposition of witnesses.

Buet student Abrar Fahad murder case was shifted to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 on Thursday.

A court here on Tuesday took the charges into cognisance against 25  in  the case over the murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad.

A fugitive accused in the Buet student Abrar Fahad killing case surrendered before a court here on Sunday.