Murder of Abrar Fahad

Abrar Fahad (born 12 February 1998), a second year student of electrical and electronic engineering (EEE) department of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was tortured and then killed by BUET's Chhatra League leaders inside BUET's Sher-e-Bangla Hall. Abrar's murderers have gotten a death sentence.[1][2] An autopsy stated that Fahad was beaten to death by a blunt object.[3][4]

Abrar Fahad
Abrar Fahad
BornFebruary 12, 1998
Kushtia, Bangladesh
DiedOctober 7, 2019(2019-10-07) (aged 21)
Sher-e-bangla Hall, BUET, Dhaka
Cause of deathMurdered by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists
NationalityBangladeshi
EducationElectrical and Electronics Engineering, BUET & Notre Dame College, Dhaka

Early life and education

Abrar Fahad was born on 12 February 1998 in Kushtia, Bangladesh. Having been a high performing student at Notre Dame College in Dhaka, Fahad was one of the top 20 students from Dhaka Board in Higher Secondary School Certificate Examination. On 31 March 2018, he started studying in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)..

Death

At the time of his death Fahad was a second-year (Term 1) student of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He was killed in room number 2011 in Sher-e Bangla Hall. He was staying in room number 1011 in the same hall.

On 6 October 2019, Sunday night, around 8 pm, some 3rd year students summoned Fahad and other second year students to room 2011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall, claimed Ashikul Islam Bitu, a second year student of Chemical Engineering department and the assistant secretary of BUET Chhatra League. Anick Sarker, a Chhatra League leader, information and research affairs secretary of BUET Chhatra League, also a 4th year student of Mechanical Engineering and Amit Shaha, deputy law affairs secretary of the same unit, led the attack on him and beat Abrar the most.[5] Police had recovered Abrar's body at 3 in the early hours of Monday at the ground floor of Sher-e-Bangla Hall. Abrar was pronounced dead around 3 am by BUET Medical Officer Dr. Md Mashuk Elahi.[6] Footage captured by a closed-circuit camera installed on the residential hall's 2nd floor showed a few people dragging Abrar down the corridor by his hands and feet.

Facebook involvement

He was killed for his views condemning the recent India-Bangladesh accord (September - October 2019).[7]

Aftermath

Students of different universities across the country held demonstrations on their respective campuses and demanded exemplary punishment of the killers of BUET student. His death triggered protests on the BUET and Dhaka University campuses.[8][9][10][11][12] Several hundred students of Dhaka University held a protest rally at the base of anti-terrorism Raju sculpture. Teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University also staged a human chain on the campus demanding capital punishment of the killers of Abrar. In Khulna, students of Khulna University barricaded the highways in front of their campus tying their faces with black badges formed a human chain in the main gate of the university and protested the murder of Abrar.[13]

A Protester protests demanding justice for Abrar Fahad.

Rajshahi University students protested at the gruesome killing of Abrar Fahad. The students also blocked Rajshahi-Dhaka highway for half an hour. Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology also held 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.[14]

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.[15]

International response

UN, UK, Germany, France & US have strongly condemned the brutal murder of Abrar Fahad.[16][17][18]

Trial

Eighteen members of the BUET Chhatra League have been detained in connection with the murder.[19][20][21][22]

On 8 December 2021, a Bangladesh court sentenced 20 university students to death and five more to life imprisonment for killing Fahad.[23]

See also

References
  1. "Abrar Fahad: Killing of Bangladesh student triggers protests". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  2. "9 held over Buet student Abrar murder". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  3. "Autopsy report: Abrar was beaten to death". Dhaka Tribune. 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  4. "Buet student beaten to death: Critical FB post costs him his life?". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  5. "Abrar murder: Nine held, case filed against 19". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  6. "Buet student murdered after 'BCL men grilled' him". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  7. "BUET student 'beaten dead' in dorm". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  8. "Bangladesh Student Killing Sparks University Protests". VOA. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  9. "Abrar Fahad: Killing of Bangladesh student triggers protests". BBC News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  10. "Student's murder triggers protest in Bangladesh". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  11. "Bangladesh student killing: Thousands protest ..." Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  12. "DU students protest BUET student Fahad's murder". Banglanews24.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  13. "Buet student Abrar murder sparks nationwide protests". The Business Standard. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  14. "Univ students countrywide protest at Abrar murder". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  15. "Political activities banned at Buet". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  16. "International communities condemn Abrar's murder: Statements issued by UN, UK, Germany". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  17. "Abrar murder: French embassy urges quick punishment of killers". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  18. "Shocked by Abrar's murder, US ambassador calls for a 'full investigation'". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  19. "Abrar Fahad murder: Father initiates case accusing 19". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  20. "Buet protesters won't budge". The Daily Star. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  21. "Abrar murder: 2 more accused held in Sylhet, Satkhira". The Daily Star. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  22. "Police arrest slain BUET student Abrar's roommate Mizanur". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  23. Mahmud, Faisal. "Bangladesh sentences 20 to death for student murder". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
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