A Bangladesh High Court has upheld the death sentence for 20 men convicted of the brutal murder of a university student seven years ago, marking a significant development in the tragic case that sparked nationwide protests.
The murder occurred in October 2019, when Abrar Fahad, a 21-year-old second-year student at the prestigious Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was killed hours after posting a critical Facebook status about a water-sharing treaty between Bangladesh and India. Fahad’s post, which criticized the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, led to his violent death at the hands of a group of 25 students affiliated with the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League party.
The victim’s body was discovered on a stairway in the university’s dormitory, showing clear signs of brutality. An autopsy revealed that Fahad had been bludgeoned with blunt objects, including cricket bats and skipping ropes, leaving him with severe bruises and injuries all over his body. His death triggered widespread protests across Bangladesh, demanding justice for the slain student and accountability for the perpetrators.
In 2021, a lower court convicted 20 men and sentenced them to death, while five others received life sentences. The case remained in the courts, and on Sunday, a High Court bench consisting of judges AKM Asaduzzaman and Syed Enayet Hossain upheld the death sentences for the 20 men involved. However, four of the 20 men sentenced to death are still at large. One of the convicts, Muntasir Al Jamie, escaped from a high-security prison in August 2024 during the mass anti-government protests that swept the country.
Fahad’s father, Barkat Ullah, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, voicing his hope that justice would soon be fully served. “I am satisfied. I hope the legal procedures will be completed soon, and justice will be served,” he told reporters after the court’s decision.
Despite the victory for Fahad’s family, Barkat Ullah shared a poignant message urging the youth to stay away from “harmful politics” and warned against being tempted by dangerous political affiliations. He also reflected on the pain of losing a child who had been sent to university with the hopes of a bright future.
“Parents send their children to educational institutions and work hard so that they can get an education. However, when children go astray, giving in to temptation, parents are deeply hurt,” he added.
Fahad’s younger brother, Abrar Faiyaz, acknowledged that the verdict had come sooner than expected and attributed the quick progress to the political shifts in the country. He emphasized that the timely implementation of the verdict could serve as a deterrent, preventing future incidents of such violence.
“Fast execution of verdicts will act as a deterrent. No one else should have the same fate as Abrar Fahad,” he stated.
Following the ruling, the defense lawyers for some of the convicts indicated that they would appeal the decision, which could result in a delay in the execution of the sentences. Azizur Rahman Dulu, the lawyer representing two of the convicts, confirmed that the appeals would suspend the death sentence, pending further legal proceedings.
