Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday said the killing of Buet student Abrar Fahad for exercising freedom of expression is an onslaught on the Constitution.
“What can I call the 10-12 boys (who killed Abrar)? They’re beasts. They kill innocent people. We’ve turned our sons into animals, and it’s very appalling. We must free the country and the educational institutions from this situation,” he said.
The Gonoforum chief further said, “Those who are sick can indulge in such acts. A boy was beaten to death in such a brutal way for expressing his own opinion. It's an onslaught on our civilisation, achievements of our independence and the Constitution.“
He said people’s freedom of expression has clearly been enshrined in the country’s Constitution, and killing anyone for expressing dissenting opinion is completely against the Constitution and the state.
Gonoforum arranged the press conference demanding proper trial of Abrar killing at the Jatiya Press Club.
Abrar, 21, a resident of Sher-e-Bangla Hall of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), was beaten to death reportedly by some Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists of the university unit following his Facebook post opposing some deals with India.
Dr Kamal demanded the government form a high-profile probe panel to look into the incident and unearth the reason behind it. “I want such an investigation where people from the judiciary will be involved. Other people, including any former IGP, can also remain there to find out the deep-rooted causes. I’m not demanding for any traditional probe committee.”
He said the country’s people are worried over the killing of the Buet student. “As the citizens of the country, we must take a position against it. We must get united, irrespective of party affiliation and opinion, to stop such terrorism…if necessary, we’ll sacrifice our lives, but we can’t accept such acts in an independent country.”
The Gonoforum president said their party was never in favour of student politics with the affiliation of political party. “Student politics gets destroyed when students get affiliated with political party. We’re now witnessing the consequences of such student politics.”
Dr Kamal said the country must be governed by obeying the Constitution. “The rule of law is now absent as the Constitution is not followed.”
He also alleged that police members are not discharging their duties neutrally. “That’s why people’s unity is essential.”
Reading out a written statement of Gonoforum, its Executive President Subrata Chowdhury said Abrar is the victim of the country’s bad politics.
He said a sick politics has engulfed the country, putting people’s life at stake.
Subrata said their party calls upon the country’s people to wage a united movement to ‘restore’ democracy and good governance and ensure public safety.
