Attorney general Md Asaduzzaman broke down in tears in the High Court on Wednesday while seeking justice for Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology student Abrar Fahad, who was brutally murdered for expressing dissent against the then Awami League government.
Abrar was beaten to death inside his student hall on October 7 in 2019 by leaders of the BUET unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League after he posted comments on Facebook, criticising the government鈥檚 deals with India.
His murder sparked nationwide and international outrage, becoming a turning point in the country鈥檚 political landscape.
鈥楾he soul of Abrar will not rest in peace until his killers are punished,鈥� Asaduzzaman said, his voice trembling with emotion before a bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain.
His statement came in response to the arguments of defence lawyer Azizul Haque Dulu who contended that his client, Morshed Amatya Islam, was sentenced to death despite four prosecution witnesses not directly implicating him in the murder.
Asaduzzaman, visibly emotional, described the harrowing details of Abrar鈥檚 torture and subsequent death, emphasising that the trial court had rightfully sentenced 20 former students to death and five others to life imprisonment.
He argued that a court has the jurisdiction to convict an accused based on the testimony of a single witness and, in cases where direct witness testimony is lacking, on circumstantial evidence.
鈥業f justice is not served, the fascism that took Abrar鈥檚 life will continue to spread across universities,鈥� he warned.
The hearing will resume on Thursday when defence counsel Azizul Haque Dulu is set to complete his arguments.
On Wednesday, deputy attorney general Jashim Uddin concluded reading the voluminous paper book related to the death reference and appeals.
The appeals include challenges filed by the five former students sentenced to life imprisonment, as well as 17 detained death-row convicts out of the 20 sentenced to death.
On December 8, 2021, Dhaka鈥檚 Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 sentenced 20 of the 25 accused to death and handed life imprisonment to the remaining five. The High Court received the death reference in January 2022.
Abrar鈥檚 father, Barkat Ullah, filed a case against 19 students, with the police later submitting a charge sheet against 25.
The investigation revealed that Abrar, a bright and outspoken student from a village in Kushtia, had no political affiliations but was targeted for his critical views.
The students sentenced to death by the tribunal are Mehedi Hasan Russel, Muntassir Al聽 Jemi, Khandaker Tabakkarul Islam Tanvir, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Md Mizanur Rahman Mizan, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, Md Shamim Billah, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md Moniruzzaman Monir, Md Mehedi Hasan Robin (aka Shanta), Muzahidur Rahman Muzahid, Anik Sarker Apu, Md Meftahul Islam Jeon, Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, SM Mahmud Setu, Morshed Amatya Islam, Md Mazedur Rahman Mazed, Morshed-Uz-Zaman Mondal Jisan (absconding), Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim (absconding), and Mostaba Rafid (absconding).
The five accused who have been awarded life imprisonment are Muhtasim Fuad, Md Akash Hossain, Moaj Abu Hurayra, Amit Saha, and Istiak Ahammed Munna.
