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Murder of Abrar Fahad

Coordinates: 23°43′36″N 90°23′33″E / 23.72667°N 90.39250°E / 23.72667; 90.39250
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Murder of Abrar Fahad
Part of Violence of Bangladesh Chhatra League
LocationBUET, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Coordinates23°43′36″N 90°23′33″E / 23.72667°N 90.39250°E / 23.72667; 90.39250
DateOctober 6, 2019; 5 years ago
c. 8:00 pm (UTC+6)
VictimAbrar Fahad
ChargesSee the § Trial and sentences section

On October 6, 2019, Abrar Fahad, a second-year student in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was murdered inside BUET's Sher-e-Bangla Hall by activists of Chhatra League, student wing of then ruling party Awami League.

The incident sparked national outrage and led to protests against campus violence. Out of 25 convicts, 20 were given death sentence and 5 others were give life sentence in relation to the murder of Abrar Fahad following a highly publicized trial.[1][2] An autopsy report later confirmed that Fahad died as a result of severe blunt force trauma.[3][4]

Murder

Abrar Fahad was found dead in Room 2011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall at BUET. He had been staying in Room 1011 of the same dormitory. Abrar had gone home on leave 10 days earlier, intending to stay until October 20th. However, with exams approaching, he decided to return to his hall to focus on his studies.[5]

On October 4th, Mehedi Hasan Robin, the Organizing Secretary of the BUET Chhatra League, reportedly gave instructions in a group chat to beat Abrar.[6] This information came to light following a confession from Ifti Mosharraf Shakal, the group's Deputy Social Service Secretary.[7]Amit Saha, the Deputy Law Secretary, suggested waiting until Abrar returned from his home.[8]

On the night of October 6th, 2019, Abrar was brought to Room 2011, along with his two mobile phones and laptop.[9] At that point, Mujtaba Rafid, the Deputy Office Secretary of BUET Chhatra League, and Khandaker Tabakkharul Islam Tanvir, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student, inspected his phones.[10] Meanwhile, Muntasir Al Jemi, a second-year student from the same department, checked his laptop.[11] During this, Mehedi Hasan Robin began slapping Abrar.[6]

Shamsul Arefin Rafat, a second-year Mechanical Engineering student, brought a cricket stump, which Ifti Mosharraf Shakal used to hit Abrar multiple times until it broke.[12] Later, Anik Sarkar, the Information and Research Secretary of BUET Chhatra League and a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student, repeatedly beat Abrar on his knees, legs, soles, and arms with another stump.[13] Meftahul Islam Zion, the Sports Secretary, also slapped Abrar and hit him on the knees with the stump.[14]

Meanwhile, Mehedi Hasan communicated with the General Secretary of the BUET Chhatra League, Rasel Mehedi Hasan, over the phone.[15] By around 10:30 PM, Abrar was lying on the floor, weakened from the beating[16] Ifti Mosharraf Shakal forced him to stand up and slapped him. Mujahidur Rahman, a third-year Electrical Engineering student, then hit him with a skipping rope. Ifti Mosharraf Shakal continued to strike Abrar’s knees and legs with a stump, and Khandaker Tanvir repeatedly slapped him.[17] Around 11 PM, Anik Sarkar entered the room again and hit Abrar with the stump and the group eventually left the room around midnight.[18]

Abrar, struggling to breathe, was given two pillows under his head by Ifti Mosharraf Shakal.[19] Abrar vomited several times.[17] The group then moved him to Room 2005 of the dormitory. Amit Saha tried to extract more information from Abrar, suggesting they continue beating him to get more details.[19] Realizing his condition was deteriorating, Amit suggested they take him out of the hall.

Mehedi Hasan and Anik Sarkar went into Room 2005, saw that Abrar seemed somewhat stable, and left.[20] Shortly after, Abrar vomited again. Mehedi Hasan talked about handing him over to the police.[21] Members of the 17th batch then moved Abrar to the ground floor with a mattress.[22] During this time, Mehedi Hasan Rasel, the General Secretary, was coordinating with the police.[21]

When Muntasir Al Jemi informed Ifti Mosharraf Shakal that Abrar’s condition had worsened, Shakal suggested massaging him.[23] Ismail and Monir called for an ambulance, but due to a delay, Tamim brought a doctor from BUET Medical Center.[17]

At 3 AM on Monday, police recovered Abrar's body from the ground floor of BUET’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall.[24] Medical Officer Dr. Md. Mashuk Elahi declared him dead around the same time. CCTV footage from the second floor of the dormitory showed several individuals dragging Abrar by his hands and feet down a corridor.[25]

Footage also revealed that at 3:26 AM, the Director of BUET's Student Welfare Council, Professor Mizanur Rahman, stood beside the body and had a conversation with the suspects before leaving.[26] The next day, he claimed he knew nothing about the incident until the morning. Abrar’s phone and laptop were in the possession of Chhatra League members, making it impossible for any of his friends to inform his family immediately after his death.[27]

Eventually, they obtained the contact number of Abrar’s younger brother, Abrar Faiyaz, from a BUET student named Diganta who used to tutor him.[28] Faiyaz was called, and after a few rings, he picked up, allowing the family to learn about his death.[27] News of Abrar’s death spread fear among the students of Sher-e-Bangla Hall. Many were too scared to share information, fearing retaliation from Chhatra League members.[29] A few students from the 17th batch decided to write a message and posted it across all BUET-related Facebook pages and groups, including the Alumni Association.

This helped the news gradually spread.[30] Initially, when Abrar was in critical condition, Chhatra League leaders planned to hand him over to the police, labeling him as a “Shibir activist” (a term used for members of the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami). One leader at the scene even called the Duty Officer at Chawkbazar Police Station, stating, "We have caught an activist; come take him away."[21] A police patrol team was dispatched to Sher-e-Bangla Hall following this call. However, a security guard at the hall, who wished to remain anonymous, told Bangla Tribune, "A police vehicle arrived and asked where the activist was, but the Chhatra League did not allow them to enter the hall afterward."[31]

Aftermath

A poster in Bengali saying “you don’t need a reason to murder someone in this city” referring to Abrar Fahad.

Students at universities across the country, including BUET and Dhaka University, staged demonstrations on their campuses, demanding severe punishment for the perpetrators responsible for Abrar Fahad's death.[32][33][34][35][36]

Students at Khulna University formed a human chain at the main gate of the university, blocked highways in front of their campus and tied their faces with black badges to protest Abrar's murder[37] Students at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, formed a human chain in front of main gate of the campus in Sylhet. The students later brought out a protest rally which paraded Sylhet-Sunamganj highway.[38] The BUET authorities banned all political activities on the campus and temporarily suspended 19 students, mostly leaders of the university's BCL unit, accused in Abrar Fahad killing case.[39]

In 2024, renewed attempt by BCL to enter politics into BUET has been met with strong university wide opposition in the form of protests and boycott of academic processes.[40]

International response

UN, UK, Germany, France & US have strongly condemned the brutal murder of Abrar Fahad.[41][42][43]

Trial and sentences

Eventually, eighteen members of the BUET Chhatra League were detained in connection with the murder.[44][45][46][47]

Later on, 25 people were convicted in the Abrar Fahad murder case and all were students at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL). The Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 sentenced 20 of them to death and 5 to life imprisonment.[48]

Abrar Murder Case
Serial Name of the Accused BUET Identity BUET Roll[49] BUET Expulsion BCL Identity[50] BCL Expulsion Current Status[51] Court Verdict
1 Mehedi Hasan Russell Civil Engineering, '13 Batch 1304098 Expelled for Life General Secretary Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
2 Muhtasim Fuad Hossain Civil Engineering, '14 Batch 1404010 Expelled for Life Vice President Permanently Expelled Arrested Life Imprisonment[52][53]
3 Md. Anik Sarker Appu Mechanical Engineering, '15 Batch 1510083 Expelled for Life Information and Research Secretary Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
4 Mehedi Hasan Robin Chemical Engineering, '15 Batch 1502050 Expelled for Life Organizational Secretary Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
5 Ifti Mosharraf Sokal Biomedical Engineering, '16 Batch 1618027 Expelled for Life Assistant Social Welfare Secretary Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
6 Md. Moniruzzaman Monir Water Resources Engineering, '16 Batch 1616028 Expelled for Life Literary Secretary Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
7 Md. Meftahul Islam (Zion) Marine Engineering, '15 Batch 1512047 Expelled for Life Sports Secretary Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
8 Md. Majeedur Rahman Majeed MME Department, '17 Batch 1711023 Expelled for Life BCL Member Mujahid Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
9 Md. Mujahidur Rahman Mujahid EEE Department, '16 Batch 1606116 Expelled for Life BCL Member Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
10 Khandakar Tabakkarul Islam (Tanveer) Mechanical Engineering, '16 Batch 1610100 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
11 Hossain Mohammad Toha Mechanical Engineering, '17 Batch 1710123 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
12 Md. Akash Hossain Civil Engineering, '16 Batch 1604194 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Life Imprisonment[52][53]
13 Md. Shamim Billah NME Department, '17 Batch 1712054 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
14 ASM Najmus Sadat Mechanical Engineering, '17 Batch 1710108 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
15 Md. Morshed Amartya Islam Mechanical Engineering, '17 Batch 1710141 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
16 Muaz Abu Huraira EEE Department, '17 Batch 1706106 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Life Imprisonment[52][53]
17 Muntasir Al Zemi Mechanical Engineering, '17 Batch 1710087 Expelled for Life BCL Member Permanently Expelled Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
18 Amit Saha Civil Engineering, '16 Batch 1604151 Expelled for Life Legal Assistant Secretary Permanently Expelled Arrested Life Imprisonment[52][53]
19 Ishtiaq Ahmed Munna Mechanical Engineering, '15 Batch 1510069 Expelled for Life Publication and Editorial Secretary Arrested Life Imprisonment[52][53]
20 Md. Shamsul Arefin Rafat Mechanical Engineering, '17 Batch 1710103 Expelled for Life BCL Member Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
21 Md. Mizanur Rahman Water Resources Engineering, '16 Batch 1616004 Expelled for Life Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
22 SM Mahmud Setu Chemical Engineering, '14 Batch 1402004 Expelled for Life Former Vice President Arrested Sentenced to Death[52][53]
23 Morshed-Uz-Zaman Mondol Jisan EEE Department, '16 Batch 1606154 Lifetime Expulsion Member of Chhatra League Fugitive[54] Sentenced to Death[52][53]
24 Ehteshamul Rabbi (Tanim) Civil Engineering, '17 Batch 1704135 Lifetime Expulsion Member of Chhatra League Permanent Expulsion Fugitive[54] Sentenced to Death[52][53]
25 Mujtaba Rafid Chemical Engineering, '16 Batch 1602017 Lifetime Expulsion Assistant Office Secretary Permanent Expulsion Fugitive[54] Sentenced to Death[52][53]
26 Ashikul Islam Bitu1 Chemical Engineering, '16 Batch 1602016 Lifetime Expulsion Assistant Secretary Participated in Class with Court Stay Order[55]
27 Mohammad Galib1 MME, '16 Batch Temporary Expulsion
28 Saiful1 Temporary Expulsion Member of Chhatra League
29 Abu Nawsad Sakib1 Temporary Expulsion
30 Mo. Shaon Mia1 Temporary Expulsion
31 Sakhawat Iqbal Abhi1 Temporary Expulsion
32 Mo. Ismail1 Temporary Expulsion

See also

References

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  48. ^ Mahmud, Faisal. "Bangladesh sentences 20 to death for student murder". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
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  50. ^ "BUET's 26 Students Expelled for Life". prothomalo.com. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
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  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Those Sentenced to Death and Life Imprisonment". prothomalo.com (in Bengali). 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Abrar Murder: 20 Sentenced to Death, 5 to Life Imprisonment". bdnews24.com (in Bengali). 2021-12-08. Archived from the original on 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  54. ^ a b c "Abrar Murder: CID Officer Testified". NTV Online (in Bengali). 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  55. ^ "Expelled Ashikul in Class with Court Stay Order". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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