A Dhaka court has sentenced 20 people to death and five others to life imprisonment in connection with the killing of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology student Abrar Fahad in October, 2019.
Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 announced the verdict in the sensational killing on Wednesday.
The death row convicts are - Mehedi Hassan Rasel, Anik Sarker, Mehedi Hassan Robin, Ifty Mosharaf Sakal, Moniruzzaman Monir, Meftahul Islam Jiyon, Majedur Rahman, Muzahidur Rahman, Tabakhairul Islam Tanvir, Hossen Mohammad Toha, Shamim Billah, Nazmus Shadat, Muntasir Al Jemi, Mizanur Rahman, Mahmud Setu, Shamsul Arifin Rafat, Morshed Omorto Islam, Ehtesamul Rabbi, Morshed Uzzaman Jishan and Mujtaba Rafeed.
The lifetimers are - Muhtasim Fuyad, Akash Hossain, Mowaz Abu Horaira, Omit Shaha and Istiaq Hassan Munna.
Earlier on November 28, the tribunal deferred the verdict of the murder case till Wednesday.
On November 14, the tribunal fixed the date (Nov 28) for delivering the judgment after completion of arguments of both the state and defendants.
In 2019, Abrar, 21, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of Buet, was beaten to death by Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university.
He was found dead on the staircase of the hall in the early hours of October 7 after he was taken to room No-2011 around 8:00pm on October 6 and beaten mercilessly.
On October 7, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case with the Chawkbazar police station accusing 19 people.
On November 13, 2019, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector and investigation officer of the case Wahiduzzaman submitted the charge sheet against the 25 accused.
On September 15, 2020, the court framed charges against the accused.
The court recorded statements of 47 witnesses among the 60 in the case.
On March 14, this year, 22 accused, arrested in the case, claimed their innocence while testifying in self-defence.
Three of the accused - Jishan, Rafid and Tanim - remained absconding.
