It has been five years since Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), was brutally murdered by a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League(BCL) leaders and activists inside the Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university. Today, October 7, 2024, marks the fifth anniversary of his death, and the pain and brutality of the killing still haunts his family, especially his mother, Rokeya Khatun. At her home near PTI Road in Kushtia Rrokey, Rokey recalled the fateful day with tear-filled eyes. "On this day, I left my son in a bus in the morning. He reached Buet by the afternoon. That night, the Chhatra League men tortured and killed him. Some of them were his friends, yet no one informed me of his death," she said in a chocked voice. Abrar's father, Barkat Ullah, is currently in Dhaka for attending events at Buet to commemorate his son’s death anniversary. His younger brother is Abrar Faiyaz, a second-year student of Mechanical Engineering at Buet. Inside their modest home, Rokeya has preserved her son's belongings with great care. "These are his laptop and mobile phones. I have kept them safe, even after all these years," she shared, showing them to the UNB reporter. She has also kept Abrar’s wristwatch, books, clothes, and even chocolates that he used to sleep with. "He would have been working today if he were alive. Whenever I think of how he was killed, I shudder," she added. Abrar was known for his patriotism and concern for the country's well-being, she said adding how his social media posts criticising a government agreement with India turned him into an enemy of some, even though he was not involved in politics. "He was killed for thinking about the country. Why didn’t his friends who killed him care about the country’s welfare?" Rokeya asked. The High Court sentenced the 20 of the 25 accused students to death in Abrar murder case, but some remain fugitives. BUET student Abrar murder: Tk 10cr compensation sought for his family Rokeya demanded their immediate arrest and the swift execution of the sentences. Last night, Abrar’s younger brother, Faiyaz, shared an emotional post on Facebook, recalling the tragic events. He wrote about the last time their mother left Abrar in a bus to Dhaka, just hours before he was taken and tortured. "Within 13-14 hours, he was taken and subjected to cruel torture. And 20 hours later, we got the news of his death," Faiyaz wrote, sharing his enduring sorrow. Abrar’s father also demanded the immediate arrest of the absconding convicts. While no major event was held in Kushtia to mark the day, Rokeya Khatun visited her son's grave in Koya, Kumarkhali upazila.

At least 12 people were hurt as leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) "swooped" on a rally brought out by the Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad on the Dhaka University (DU) campus Friday in remembrance of Buet student Abrar Fahad. Abrar, a second-year student of the electrical and electronic engineering department of Buet (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) died on October 7, 2019, after he was mercilessly beaten by the university's Chhatra League men over his Facebook post criticising the government's deals with India. Today, the Chhatra League men attacked the protest rally at Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture organised to observe Abrar's third death anniversary. As the protest programme began, Chhatra League activists launched attacks from the university's Teacher-Student Centre, vandalised the chairs and public announcement system, tore off the posters and burned them. They also chased Chhatra Adhikar Parishad men towards Shahbagh, brandishing chairs and sticks. Read: BCL factional clash leaves eight injured at Chattogram College BCL Vice-President Mohin Uddin, Joint General Secretary Mahbub Khan, Organising Secretary Nazim Uddin, Private University Affairs Secretary Al Amin Rahman; deputy office affairs secretaries Shimul Khan, Abdur Rahim; Jahurul Haque Hall unit President Kamal Uddin Rana, General Secretary Rubel Hossain, and other leaders and activists of the ruling party's student wing carried out the attack, reports our DU correspondent. The clash left over a dozen injured from Chhatra Odhikar and Chhatra League and they were rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where another brawl broke out. Zahid Ahsan, library secretary of the DU Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, and Chhatra League Central Committee Organising Secretary Nazim Uddin were among the injured. Bin Yamin Mollah, president of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, told UNB that the BCL men injured 12 of their activists during a "peaceful programme," without any provocation. "As I went to see them at Dhaka Medical college hospital, BCL again attacked us." BCL Joint General Secretary Mahbub Khan said Chhatra Odhikar Parishad leaders and activists were holding the programme with outsiders and fundamentalists on the DU campus. "When we asked them whether they were university students, they attacked us. Later, the university's students stopped them."

Faiyaj, the brother of murdered BUET student Abrar Fahad, has passed the admission test for the varsity's engineering courses for 2021-22 session. Abrar was tortured to death by some Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders on Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) premises three years ago. His brother Faiyaj has secured 450th position in the admission test result, the result of which was published on Thursday, and will get a chance to study mechanical engineering at the university. Also read: 20 to die for killing Buet student Abrar Faiyaj said, “I will make the final decision after discussing the same with my family.” His mother, Rokeya Khatun, however, said that she was reluctant to send her second son to Buet. In 2019, Abrar, then 21, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering, was beaten to death by some 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. On October 7, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a complaint at the Chawkbazar police station accusing 19 people of her son's death, following which a murder case was registered. On November 13, 2019, Detective Branch (DB) inspector and investigation officer of the case Wahiduzzaman submitted a chargesheet against some 25 accused. On September 15, 2020, the court framed charges against the accused. The court recorded the statements of 47 of the 60 witnesses in the case. On March 14, 2021, the arrested 22 accused in the case pleaded not guilty. Three of them – Jishan, Rafid and Tanim – however remained absconding. Also read: Abrar murder case: HC accepts 17death-row convicts' appeals for hearing On December 8 last year, a Dhaka court sentenced 20 of them to death and five others to life imprisonment for killing Abrar in October 2019. On January 6, some of the convicts moved the High Court against the trial court's judgment.

A special tribunal in Dhaka has set November 28 for pronouncing judgment in the case of killing Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet). Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman set the date after the prosecution and defence had concluded their trial arguments. Earlier on October 24, the prosecution sought capital punishment for all the 25 accused in the murder case. READ: Abrar murder case: Prosecution seeks capital punishment for all accused 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. 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 against the 25 accused. On September 15, 2020,  the court framed charges against the accused. The court recorded statement of 47 witnesses among the 60 witnesses in the case. READ: Naimul Abrar death: Tk 100 crore compensation rule against Prothom Alo 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.

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.

Lifetime expelled Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Ashikul Islam Bitu, who was allegedly involved in the Abrar Fahad murder, reportedly joined an online class of the Chemical engineering department last Saturday with a 'stay order' from the court. After noticing him in the class, his classmates protested by changing their Zoom profile picture with the text which read "No class sharing with a murderer". They urged the university authorities to cancel his course registration otherwise they threatened to boycott academic activities. BUET authorities on 22 November 2019 expelled 26 students including Ashikul Islam Bitu permanently for their alleged involvement in the Abrar Fahad murder case. However, Ashikul Islam was not named on the police charge sheet and recently get a 'stay order' from the court against his expulsion decision. Read:  Abrar murder: 22 accused file no-confidence pleas   BUET students informed that Ashikul registered four courses of  level-3, term one after getting  'stay order' from the court  Later, students protested his joining the class and demanded the cancellation of his registration otherwise they will boycott classes from May 30. Ashikul Islam told UNB, "I was not named in the charge sheet and was not involved with the murder. BUET expelled me for not helping in the investigation process. recently I get  'Stay order' from the court against my expulsion and return to the class maintaining all procedures. But I will not join further classes in this situation." Abrar, a second-year student of the electrical and electronic engineering department, died after he was brutally beaten allegedly by some Chhatra League men at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university in the early hours of 7 October 2019. Read:  Prosecution witness testifies in Abrar murder case The incident triggered a firestorm of protests on campuses across the country. Abrar was murdered allegedly for his Facebook posts, which seemed critical of some deals with India.

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.

A prosecution witness testified before  a tribunal in the murder case of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad who was beaten to death by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men.

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