Azad Rahman
The case over the murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad aginst 25 leaders and activists of BUET’s Chhatra League will be settled by this year, said Special Public Prosecutor Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan.
Abrar, a second-year student of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department, was killed after brutal beatings overnight by BCL leaders and activists at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university in October 7, 2019.
State counsel Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan said, ‘‘The case would have been settle by now if the second wave of covid haven’t hit the country.’’.
However, he expressed hopes that the trail will end soon as the court’s normal proceedings have begun on Sunday.
The case is pending with Dhaka Speedy Trial tribunal-1 chaired by Abu Zafor Mohammad Kamruzzaman, who completed the recording of 46 prosecution witnesses and set time for defense witnesses.
The last date for the defense witnesses was set for April 18, but the activities were closed due to coronavirus.
Speaking to The News Times, Defendant’s lawyer Manzur Alam said, “We also want the trial to end soon. Let those who are guilty be punished, and let those who are innocent be acquitted.”
Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah said, “It’s been a long time since we have to run around the court.”
”They are trying to get the case to end quickly. But Corona came and stopped everything. I hope the court will settle the case soon when the situation is gets fixed. ”
According to the case statement, the body of Abrar Fahad was recovered from the stairs of Sher-e-Bangla Hall of BUET on the morning of October 7, 2019. Later it was learned that the leaders and activists of BUET Chhatra League had called him and beaten him on suspicion of being a member Shibir. Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a case with the Chawkbazar police station against 19 people in the case.
Investigating officer of the case Dhaka Metropolitan (South) Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Waheduzzaman filed the chargesheet against 25 people in connection with the death of Abrar on November 13, 2019.
Police arrested 16 of the 19 accused and five of the six non-accused. Eight of the arrested have given confessional statements in court under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The accused in the chargesheet are- Mehedi Hasan Russell, Md. Anik Sarkar, Ifti Musharraf Sokal, Md. Mehedi Hasan Robin, Md. Meftahul Islam Zion, Muntasir Alam Jamie, Khandaker Tabakhkharul Islam Tanvir, Md. Mujahidur Rahman, Muhtasim Fuad, Md. Moniruzzaman Monir, Md. Akash Hossain, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Majedur Rahman, Shamim Billah, Moaz Abu Hurairah, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Istiaq Ahmed Munna, Amit Saha, Md. Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, Morshed Amatya Islam and SM Mahmud Setu.
The three fugitives on the chargesheet are Morsheduzzaman Jisan, Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim and Mostafa Rafid.
On January 13 last year, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court directed Metropolitan Sessions Judge to send the documents of the Abrar murder case to the court as they were ready for trial. Then the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court ordered to send the trial to tribunal-1 quickly.
On September 14, 2020, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 rejected the plea of the accused and on September 15 formed charges against the accused.
After that, the tribunal started taking testimony of 46 people from the state side. At present the defense witness of the accused party is going on. The arrested accuseds are lodged in jail. They applied for bail more than once in the high court but were rejected every time.
