BUET Brutality: High Court Upholds Death Sentences in Abrar Fahad Murder Case
The full verdict of the High Court has been released, upholding the lower court’s sentencing in the murder case of Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The court maintained the death penalty for 20 convicts and life imprisonment for five others.
The 131-page verdict was published following the signatures of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain. On Saturday, May 3, defense lawyer SM Shahjahan confirmed the publication of the full judgment.
Earlier, on March 16, 2024, the High Court bench comprising Justice Asaduzzaman and Justice Hossain delivered the judgment after concluding hearings on the death reference, criminal appeals, and jail appeals filed by the convicts.
Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was brutally beaten to death on the night of October 6, 2019, in Sher-e-Bangla Hall of BUET. The next day, his father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station. Following a swift investigation, police submitted a charge sheet on November 13, 2019, accusing 25 BUET students.
According to the charge sheet, the accused collectively killed Abrar based on false, fabricated, and baseless accusations that he was affiliated with a student political group.
In a brief reaction to the verdict, Abrar’s younger brother Abrar Faiyaz said, “Ruling has been upheld. We are certainly satisfied. We hope the procedures are completed quickly so that the verdict is executed without delay.”
Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah stated, “The verdict of the lower court has been upheld. We are presently satisfied. We urge the government to execute this judgment without delay.”
When asked by journalists about a convict who reportedly escaped from prison, he replied, “We learned about this six months later. This question should not be directed to us but rather to the prison authorities. We have no comment on this matter.”
Following the hearings, on February 24, the High Court had placed the matter under ‘CAV’ (curia advisari vult), meaning the court was awaiting to deliver its judgment. Representing the state in court were Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, Deputy Attorney General Md. Jasim Sarkar, Khandaker Bahar Rumi, Noor Muhammad Azmi, Russell Ahmed, and Assistant Attorneys General Abdul Jabbar Jewel, Laboni Akter, Tanvir Pradhan, and Sumaiya Binte Aziz.
On the defense side, senior lawyers SM Shahjahan, Azizur Rahman Dulu, Masud Hasan Chowdhury, and Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared for the convicts.
The case’s death reference was submitted to the High Court on January 6, 2022. Under criminal procedure laws, all death sentences issued by trial courts must be reviewed and approved by the High Court. Meanwhile, imprisoned convicts also filed jail appeals and criminal appeals.
On December 8, 2021, Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 Judge Abu Zafar Md. Kamruzzaman sentenced 20 accused to death and five others to life imprisonment in the case.
Those sentenced to death include Mehedi Hasan Russell, Md. Anik Sarkar alias Apu, Mehedi Hasan Robin alias Shanto, Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Md. Moniruzzaman Monir, Meftahul Islam Zion, Md. Majedur Rahman Majed, Md. Mujahidur Rahman Mujahid, Khandaker Tabakarul Islam alias Tanvir, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md. Shamim Billah, Md. Sadat ASM Nazmus Sadat, Muntasir Al Jemi, Md. Mizanur Rahman Mizan, SM Mahmud Setu, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, Md. Morshed alias Morshed Amartya Islam, Ehteshamul Rabbi alias Tanim, Mohammad Morsheduzzaman Mondol alias Jisan, and Mujtaba Rafid.
The five sentenced to life imprisonment are Amit Saha, Ishtiaq Ahmed Munna, Md. Akash Hossain, Muhtasim Fuad, and Md. Moaz alias Moaz Abu Huraira.
Abrar Fahad, a residential student of BUET's Sher-e-Bangla Hall and a second-year student of Electrical Engineering, was tortured to death by cadres of the ruling student wing on the night of October 6, 2019. The incident reportedly stemmed from a Facebook status he posted criticizing unequal treaties and water aggression between Bangladesh and India. Later, around 3 a.m., police recovered his body from the dormitory staircase.
His father filed the murder case the next day on October 7, 2019, accusing 19 individuals. The investigation concluded within 37 days, and the charge sheet was submitted on November 13 of the same year by Detective Branch Inspector Md. Wahiduzzaman, the investigating officer.
