The freshman from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) was an active participant in the nationwide road safety movement last year, sparked by the death of two college students by a speeding passenger bus.
The irony of a road safety advocate being killed by reckless bus driving is not lost on anyone.
Shortly after the news of his death broke out, a photo of a smiling Abrar, holding a placard that urges everyone to follow traffic rules, went viral on Facebook.
A number of posts went up that placed the photo of a smiling Abrar with the photo of his fresh grave.
Some mockingly called it “One Year Challenge” – a copy of a recent popular Facebook trend called “10-Year Challenge” – pointing out that a champion of road safety movement from last year had turned into another dead body, crushed by another passenger bus in a hurry.
Abrar was crossing the road through the zebra crossing in front of Jamuna Future Park in Kuril, Dhaka on Tuesday morning when he was run over and killed on the spot by a Suprovat Paribahan bus.
His fellow students at BUP took to the streets – the same spot where he died – and launched a fierce protest demanding road safety, later joined by students from other institutions.
The protesters have postponed their demonstration till March 28, with the ultimatum that they will resume the movement – a movement close to Abrar’s heart – if their demands for road safety are not fulfilled.