Buet student Abrar murder sparks nationwide protests

The murder of Buet student Abrar Fahad allegedly by some activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League has triggered nationwide protests.

Students of different universities across the country took to streets on Monday, demanding the arrest of and capital punishment to the killers.

General students of Dhaka University, led by Dhaka University Central Students' Union Vice-President Nurul Haque Nur and some other left-leaning students' organisations, brought out a procession on the campus at 11 am on Monday. 

They also tried to enter the Buet campus but police barred them at the Palashi intersection.

A group of students also formed a human chain in front of Razu Memorial Sculpture at about 1 pm. 

Nurul Haque Nur told The Business Standard, "Chhatra League leaders killed Abrar brutally. Such killing hurts us. We demand immediate arrest and exemplary punishment to the killers."

"They killed an innocent boy. We cannot tolerate it. We will continue it (protest) until the justice," the VP said. 

In Rajshahi, leaders and activists of Progressive Students' Alliance of Rajshahi University unit blockaded the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway, protesting the killing of Abrar. 

They also brought out a procession on the campus, reports our Rajshahi Correspondent. 

In Jahangirnagar University, students formed a human chain and staged a demonstration.

Students of Kushtia Islamic University also blockaded the Kushtia-Jhenaidah highway, reports our Kushtia correspondent.

They held a rally on the campus and announced to continue their movement.

In Khulna, general students of Khulna University barricaded the highways in front of their campus, reports our Khulna correspondent.

Students tying their faces with black badges formed a human chain in the main gate of the university and protested the murder of Abrar.

In Chattogram, students under the banner of "Chhatra Odhikar Parishad" staged a protest rally at Sholoshahar area in the port city protesting Abrar murder, reports our Chattogram correspondent.  

Meantime, police on Monday detained nine leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League in connection with the murder.

"They all are in police custody," Abdul Baten, additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), told reporters after inspecting Sher-e-Bangla Hall on the Buet campus where Abrar was beaten dead.

The arrestees were identified as Chhatra League's Buet unit General Secretary Mehedi Hasan Rasel, Joint General Secretary Muhtasim Fuad, Information and Research Affairs Secretary Anik Sarkar and Sports Secretary Meftahul Islam Xion and Chhatra League activists Tanvirul Abedin Iphan and Jemi.

All the arrestees were involved in the killing of Abrar, sources said.

After scrutinising the CCTV footage, police have also identified three more persons linked to the murder and are trying to detain them, the DMP official said.

Abrar's father Barkat Ullah filed a case with Chakbazar Police Station on Monday night.

Abrar Fahad, 21, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, was beaten to death on Sunday night by Chhatra League activists for his alleged involvement in the politics of Islami Chhatra Shibir.

According to students of Sher-e-Bangla Hall, a group of students called Abrar around 9 pm on Sunday to room no. 2011 and beat him indiscriminately with blunt objects like cricket stumps.

Dr Masuk Elahi, a physician of the university, said, "I rushed to the hall after being informed by the students of the incident and found Abrar's body lying on the ground. Several injury marks were found on his body."

Ashikul Islam Bitu, joint secretary of the Buet unit of Chhatra League, said, "We called Abrar to the room to interrogate him about his affiliation with Chhatra Shibir and found evidence after checking his Facebook account and messenger."

"I left the room after a while. Later, I heard that his body was found on the staircase. Buet Chhatra League leaders Muztoba Rafid, Ifty Mosharaf Sokal and Amit Saha were present during the quizzing," Bitu added.

After hearing the incident, students of Buet and Dhaka University brought out processions, demanding the arrest of and the punishment to the killers. 

Police forced to hand over CCTV footage to students

In the face of the strong pressure, the law enforcers were forced to hand over the CCTV footage to the Buet students.

The protesting students confined provost of Sher-e-Bangla Hall Md Jafar Ikbal Khan, Additional Commissioner of DMP (Crime and Operation) Krisna Pada Ray and Additional Commissioner of DMP Abdul Baten in the provost's room till 6pm.

They sought the CCTV footage from law enforcers to identify the killers of Abrar.

Krisna Pada Ray tried to convince the students, saying they could not give the footage without the court's consent, but the students were unmoved. The protesting students also chanted slogans against the law enforcing agencies and the university administration.

Abrar never misbehaved with anyone, says his mother

"My son was very polite and never misbehaved with anyone, then why did his fellows kill him brutally?", asked Abrar's mother Rokeya Khatun with a crying face.

"You are the leaders of Chhatra League. Abrar's family also belongs to the ideology of Awami League. How could you kill the son coming from a family having an Awami League background?", she questioned.

"He went to Tablig-e-Jamaat for twice. Is it his fault?", she asked?

Abrar's wailing mother, said "I called my son several times on Sunday night did not get a response. Maybe he saw my phone call and cried but he had no power to receive."

"I want only justice. The killers should be punished," she said. 

Abrar Fayaj, younger brother of Abrar, an intermediate student of Dhaka College, told The Business Standard, "I phoned my brother but he didn't receive. Later, I tried to contact him on Facebook Messenger but failed to reach him. They killed my brother brutally."

"My brother was not involved in any politics. We are the follower of the Awami League," he said.

"I demand capital punishment to the killers of my brother," he said.

Abrar dies of internal bleeding: Doctors

Abrar Fahad died of "internal bleeding and excessive pain" as he was badly beaten up with blunt objects like cricket stumps or bamboo sticks, doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital said after autopsy.

 "He had enough "extensive bruises" on his hands, legs and back, Sohel Mahmud, head of Forensic Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital told journalists.

Chhatra League forms probe committee 

Bangladesh Chhatra League formed a two-member committee to probe the allegations of Chhatra League men's involvement in the murder of Buet student Abrar Fahad.

Chhatra League Acting President Al Nahian Khan Joy said this at a press conference held at Madhu's Canteen at Dhaka University on Sunday afternoon.

 "If any Chhatra League men are found involved in the murder of Abrar, stern actions will be taken against them," he said. 

 As per the instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, such heinous act by anyone will not be taken lightly and organisational actions will be taken against them, he added.

The Chhatra League leader also urged the law enforcers to take action according to the law, no matter whoever is behind the crime.

Abrar's last Facebook post 

In his last Facebook post, Abrar Fahad expressed his critical view about Bangladesh's agreement with India allowing the country to withdraw water from the Feni river.

On October 5 at 5:32 pm, the day when Bangladesh and India struck several agreements including India's withdrawal of 1.82 cusec water from the Feni river, Abrar posted on Facebook stating three historical examples, in which Bangladesh failed to gather some achievements in interests like use of port, water sharing and export of energy resources from its neighbour.