A Dhaka court on Sunday fixed November 28 for pronouncing judgement in a case filed over the brutal murder of Buet student Abrar Fahad in 2019.
Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman of the Dhaka’s First Speedy Trial Tribunal set the date as both prosecution and defence concluded their arguments in the much-talked about case.
During the closing arguments, the prosecution told the court that they were able to prove the charges against all 25 accused and sought capital punishment for all in the case.
On the other hand, the defence lawyers told the court that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused and sought acquittal for their clients.
Twenty-two of the accused – now in jail – were produced before the tribunal during the hearing on the day. Three others accused have been absconding since the case was filed.
A total 46 out of 60 prosecution witnesses have testified in the sensational case.
Detective Branch (DB) of police Inspector Md Wahiduzaman, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the court against 25 students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) on November 13, 2019.
The tribunal on September 15, 2020, had framed charges against all 25 accused in the case.
The 25 accused are Mehedi Hasan Russel, Anik Sarker, Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Md Mehedi Hasan Robin, Md Meftahul Islam Jeon, Muntassir Alam Jemmy, Khandaker Tabakkharul Islam Tanvir, Md Muzahidur Rahman, Muhtasim Fuad, Md Moniruzzaman Monir, Md Akash Hossain, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md Mazedul Islam, Shamim Billah, Moaj Abu Hurayra, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Istiak Ahammed Munna, Amit Saha, Md Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, SM Mahmud Setu, Morsheduzzaman Jisan, Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim, Morshed Amatya Islam and Mostaba Rafid. Of these, Jisan, Rafid and Tanim are yet to be arrested and are tried in absentia.
According to the police, of the 25 accused, 11 took part in the gruesome murder directly and the other played role in the crime one way or another. Of those arrested, eight have given confessional statements in the case.
Buet students and the university authorities found the seemingly lifeless body of Abrar, 22, on first-floor stairs of Sher-e-Bangla Hall and rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared him dead at around 6:30 am on October 7, 2019.
Abrar, a second-year student of EEE department of Buet, was beaten to death by the Chhatra League activists over his posts on Facebook.
Abrar’s father Barkatullah filed the case with Chawkbazar police station after the incident.
The incident triggered a firestorm of protests on campuses across the country. Many took to social media to demand justice for Abrar.
Amid protests on the campus, Buet authorities on October 11 the same year banned all political activities on the campus and suspended 19 students of the university who were made accused in the case.
