Twenty two accused have once again pleaded not guilty in the case filed over the 2019 murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad.
The accused also demanded justice after Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 read out the charges against them on Tuesday.
After recording the statement of the accused, the court fixed Wednesday for the hearing of arguments in the case.
Earlier on Tuesday, the court once again indicted all 25 accused in the case as the state had moved for a reindictment to include some parts of the case that were missing when charges were first framed .
The accused had also pleaded innocent before the same court and judge on March 14.
A total of 47 out of 60 witnesses have testified before the court since the trial started on September 15, 2020.
On November 13, 2019, the Detective Branch of Police submitted the chargesheet against 25 people over the murder. Among them, 22 accused are now in jail and three are absconding.
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According to the police, investigation revealed that 11 people directly took part in the killing and the 14 others were involved indirectly.
The 25 accused are: Mehedi Hasan Russel, Anik Sarker, Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Md Mehedi Hasan Robin, Md Meftahul Islam Jeon, Muntassir Alam Jemmy, Khandaker Tabakkharul Islam Tanvir, Md Muzahidur Rahman, Muhtasim Fuad, Md Moniruzzaman Monir, Md Akash Hossain, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md Mazedul Islam, Shamim Billah, Moaj Abu Hurayra, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Istiak Ahammed Munna, Amit Saha, Md Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, SM Mahmud Setu, Morsheduzzaman Jisan, Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim, Morshed Amatya Islam and Mostaba Rafid. Among them, Jisan, Rafid and Tanim are yet to be arrested.
On October 7, 2019 a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League Buet unit leaders and activists allegedly clubbed Abrar Fahad to death for his social media post criticizing the Bangladesh-India deal on sharing the water of the Feni River.
Abrar's father filed a murder case against 19 people with the capital's Chawkbazar police the same day.