Abrar murder: Justice delayed at speedy tribunal amid pandemic

The verdict in the Abrar Fahad murder case is yet to be delivered two years after his death, although the case was transferred to the speedy tribunal.

Among the 25 accused, three are still absconding.

Currently, lawyers of both parties are presenting their arguments at the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka court. The next date of hearing is on October 20. 

The public prosecutor (PP) in the case claims that the delay occurred due to the coronavirus pandemic.

PP Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan said: “After recording statements from the witnesses, arguments are now being presented. After the arguments are over, the announcement of a verdict day will come. The proceedings of the case have been delayed as the court was closed for many days due to the pandemic.” 

He expressed his hope of getting a verdict within this year.

Abrar’s father Barkatullah, a resident of Kumarkhali, Kushtia, told this newspaper that none of his family members were physically well at present right now. Abrar’s grandmother suffers from cancer.

“We cannot get out of the mental trauma as my elder son, who was a light of hope for us, was killed brutally,” he added.

He expects the highest punishment for the culprits and hopes that the punishment will be ensured in the High Court within the fastest time. 

“The three accused who are on the run, should be brought to justice,” he demanded. 

Also Read - Buet remembers Abrar Fahad

Abrar, 22, a second-year student of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), died after he was brutally beaten, allegedly by some Chhatra League men, at Sher-e-Bangla hall of the university in the early hours of October 7, 2019.

Later, his father filed a case with Chawkbazar police station against 19 Chhatra League men of Buet unit over the incident.

The case was later transferred to Dhaka speedy trial tribunal-1 following a petition submitted by Abrar’s father Barkatullah seeking quick trial.

On November 13, 2019, the police filed a charge sheet accusing 25 students of the crime. The court took cognizance of it on January 21, 2020. Charges were framed against the students on September 15 of the same year.

The accused were charged under  Sections 302, 109 and 114 of Penal Code 1860, which include homicide, pre-planning of the murder and taking part in the killing mission. 

The charge sheet was reconstituted on September 8 this year after the correction of some errors.

The indicted 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.

All the accused were leaders and activists of the Buet unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League.  Of them, 22 are now in jail while three accused -- Mostaba Rafid, Morsheduzzaman Jisan and Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim -- are still on the run.

According to the charge sheet, of the 25 accused, 11 took part in the gruesome murder directly while the others played roles in the crime one way or another.

Eight of the 22 arrestees have made statements in court confessing to their involvement in the killing.