Different student organisations and political parties on Tuesday demanded the execution of the verdict in the case of killing Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology student Abrar Fahad and an end to foreign dominance in the country.
They made the demands in separate programmes and statements to mark Abrar鈥檚 sixth death anniversary.
Abrar was beaten to death by the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League on October 7, 2019 reportedly for his Facebook posts criticising the Awami League regime鈥檚 deals with India. Chhatra League is now a banned organisation.
The High Court on March 16, 2025 in a verdict upheld the lower court鈥檚 December 8, 2021 verdict that sentenced 20 BCL activists to death and five others to life term imprisonment.
The case is now pending with the Appellate Division as the convicts appealed against the verdict.
In Dhaka, Abrar鈥檚 father Barkat Ullah on Tuesday inaugurated the 鈥楢grashan Birodhi Aat Stambha鈥�, installed by the Dhaka South City Corporation, at Palashi intersection near the BUET campus.
Abrar Fahad Smriti Sangsad organised the event.
The ceremony was also attended, among others, by information and broadcasting affairs adviser Mahfuz Alam, local government, rural development and cooperatives affairs adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, BUET pro-vice-chancellor Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, National Citizen Party member secretary Akhter Hossen, and Abrar鈥檚 brother Abrar Faiyaz.
The eight pillars represent sovereignty, democracy, people鈥檚 defence, communal harmony, economic self-reliance, protection of local industry, agriculture, rivers, forests and ports, cultural freedom, and human dignity.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, organised a discussion at Dhaka University鈥檚 Teacher-Student Centre auditorium to mark the day.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that Abrar was killed to suppress the voices against foreign domination in the country.
鈥榃e have to establish the 鈥淏angladesh First鈥� policy,鈥� said Salahuddin.
JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib urged the authorities to take immediate initiatives to execute the verdict in the Abrar murder case.
He mentioned that one of the death-row convicts in the case, Muntasir Al Jemy, escaped from prison on August 6, 2024 and urged the authorities to arrest him immediately.
Different units of Chhatra Dal, including those of Sherpur, Chattogram, Barishal, Noakhali, Sylhet, Bandarban and Rajshahi, offered special prayers in the districts to mark the day.
Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, the student wing of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, organised a commemorative programme and a photography exhibition in front of TSC on the Dhaka University campus to mark the day.
Addressing the event, GOP general secretary Mohammad Rashed Khan said that Abrar was a symbol of resistance against Indian aggression and dominance in Bangladesh.
鈥榃e will not accept any aggression and dominance of India in Bangladesh,鈥� said Rashed.
The Dhaka University Central Students鈥� Union also organised a seminar and photography exhibition on the DU campus to mark the day.
Several leaders of different hall unions and students鈥� organisations alleged that the DUCSU did not maintain inclusivity in inviting guests to the event.
Revolutionary Students鈥� Unity organised a candle lighting programme on the DU campus and urged the government to unveil and cancel all secret and unequal agreements with imperialist groups and with India.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh amir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, in a statement on Tuesday, stressed the need to introduce a new political settlement in Bangladesh to stop the repetition of brutality like Abrar鈥檚 murder.