The High Court has upheld the death sentences of 20 individuals and life imprisonment for five others in the murder case of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad.
The verdict was delivered on Sunday (16 March) by a bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahim.
Following extensive hearings on the death reference, jail appeals, and regular appeals, the High Court had reserved its judgement on 24 February.
In response to the verdict, Abrar’s father, Barkat Ullah, expressed partial satisfaction, emphasising the need for swift execution of the judgement.
On 6 October 2019, the lifeless body of Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering at BUET, was recovered from Sher-e-Bangla Hall.
His father subsequently filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station in Dhaka.
Investigations led to charges against 25 BUET students, with police submitting the charge sheet on 13 November 2019.
The prosecution asserted that the accused, acting in collusion, falsely accused Abrar of links to an extremist group and subjected him to a fatal beating.
On 15 September 2020, the trial court framed charges against the accused.
The Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 delivered its verdict on 8 December 2021, sentencing 20 individuals to death and five to life imprisonment.
As per judicial procedure, the trial court’s ruling was forwarded to the High Court for approval of the death sentences, known as the death reference. Additionally, the convicts lodged jail appeals and regular appeals against their sentences.
On 6 January 2022, the trial court’s documents reached the relevant High Court branch for review.
Subsequently, the case was taken up for hearing on 26 January, and all appeals were heard collectively.
The hearings began on 28 November last year, with the state presenting the case dossier.
From 10 February this year, hearings were conducted daily, barring a single recess.
The final arguments concluded on 24 February, following which the court reserved its judgement.
Attorney General Asaduzzaman, along with Deputy Attorney Generals Jasim Sarker, Khandaker Bahar Rumi, Noor Muhammad Azmi, and Russel Ahmed, represented the state, assisted by Assistant Attorney Generals Abdul Jabbar Jewel, Laboni Akter, Tanvir Pradhan, and Sumaiya Binte Aziz.
Senior defence counsels included SM Shahjahan, Azizur Rahman Dulu, Masud Hasan Chowdhury, and Mohammad Shishir Monir.
The 20 individuals sentenced to death are: Mehedi Hasan Russell, Moniruzzaman Monir, Meftahul Islam Zion, Mazedur Rahman Mazed, Mujahidur Rahman, Khandaker Tabakkarul Islam Tanvir, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Shamim Billah, ASM Najmus Sadat, Morshed Amartya Islam, Muntasir Al Jemi, Md Shamsul Arefin Rafat, Md Mizanur Rahman, SM Mahmud Setu, Morshed-Uz-Zaman Mondal Jisan, Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim, Mujtaba Rafid, Anik Sarker, Mehedi Hasan Robin, and Ifti Mosharraf Sokal.
Three among them—Morshed-Uz-Zaman Mondal Jisan, Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim, and Mujtaba Rafid—remain absconding.
One of the convicted, Muntasir Al Jemi, escaped from Kashimpur High-Security Central Jail on 6 August last year by breaking through a prison wall, as revealed in a statement issued by prison authorities on 25 February this year.
The five sentenced to life imprisonment are: Muhtasim Fuad Hossain, Md Akash Hossain, Muaz Abu Huraira, Amit Saha, and Ishtiaque Ahmed Munna.
With the High Court’s ruling affirming the original verdict, the case now awaits the next phase of legal proceedings, including the possibility of appeals to the Supreme Court.
