Protest remembering Abrar Fahad comes under ‘BCL’ attack

At least 14 people were injured in an attack allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men on Chhatra Odhikar Parishad protest rally marking the third death anniversary of BUET student Abrar Fahad on Dhaka University campus on Friday.

Witnesses said Chhatra Odhikar Parishad tried to organise the commemoration ceremony after 3 pm when Chhatra League leaders and activists vandalized chairs and burnt banner and festoons at the gathering place of the TSC area.

Gono Odhikar Parishad Senior Joint Member Secretary Muhammad Ataullah told the Business Post that they had not organised the rally under any political banner and yet Chhatra League attacked them. 

Sources said Dhaka University Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall Chhatra League President Kamal Uddin Rana and General Secretary Rubel Hossain led the attack. 

Kamal Uddin, however, denied the allegations and said: “We arranged a scholarship awarding ceremony at TSC on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s birthday. General students interrupted the programme organized by Chhatra Odhikar Parishad.”

He said they just had gone there to settle the dispute. 

10 activists from Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and four from Chhatra League were injured in the attack and later they were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). 

BCL leaders and activists were seen standing with helmets, sticks and bamboo in their hands.

Inside DMCH, the two sides clashed again. “BCL leaders and activists attacked us locking the doors inside DMCH,” said Ariful Islam Adeeb, General Secretary of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad. Adeeb also claimed that 20 of their leaders and activists were arrested.

“When police arrived they arrested our leaders and activists instead of arresting the attackers from the student organization of the ruling party,” he alleged.

Chhatra Odhikar Parishad leaders Sanaullah Tariqul Islam, Touhidul Islam Tuhin, Mamunur Rashid, Parvej, Akhtar Hossain, Akram Hossain, Asif Mahmud, Yusuf and Asad bin Roni were among the arrestees. 

Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Noor Muhammad said they had detained 20 people on the baisis of complaints put forward by Chhatra League. After investigation further action will be taken, he said.

Kamal Khan, Vice President of Chhatra League, said Chhatra Odhikar Parishad organised the programme without taking permission from the university administration and when Chhatra League Organizing Secretary Nazim Uddin asked them about the programme they attacked him and other BCL activists. 

The attack was led by President Akhtar Hossain. “When we took our injured men to DMCH, they became more aggressive and started shouting provocative slogans and at one point they attacked us again,” he added. 

On 06 October 2019, the dead body of Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of the EEE Department, was recovered from Sher-e-Bangla Hall of BUET.  Later Abrar’s father filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station. 

On 13 November 2019, police filed a charge sheet against 25 students of BUET after investigating the case. The court framed charges against the defendants on 15 September 2020.

After the trial and hearing on the case on 08 December 2021, the court sentenced 20 people to death and five to life imprisonment.