At least nine members of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) unit Chhatra League have been detained in connection with the murder of Abrar Fahad, a second year student of the university.
“They were taken into custody for interrogation,” Chawkbazar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Sohrab Hossain told Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
The detainees are -- Buet Chhatra League General Secretary Mehedi Hasan Rasel, Joint Secretary Muhtasim Fuad, who is also the vice president of Sher-e-Bangla hall, Information and Research Affairs Secretary Anick Sarker, Sports Secretary and student of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Meftahul Islam Zion, Chhatra League Organizing Secretary Mehedi Hasan Robein, Publication Secretary Ishtiak Munna, Deputy Social Service Secretary Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Deputy Law Affairs Secretary Amit Saha, and Tanveer, student of mechanical engineering department.
Meanwhile, Abrar's father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case against 19 people with Chawkbazar police station on Monday evening.
“All the nine detainees have been included in the case,” the OC said.
In another development, the Buet authorities filed a general diary with the police station, said a press release signed by the university acting registrar Prof Dr Md Saidur Rahman.
Police escort Buet Chhatra League Joint Secretary Muhtasim Fuad at Buet Campus in Dhaka on Monday, October 7, 2019 Dhaka TribuneA probe body has also been formed in this regard, the release added.
Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Assistant Commissioner Abdul Baten confirmed that six were detained in connection with the murder and found involvement of another four.
DMP Additional Commissioner Krishna Pada Roy said: “We have reasons to suspect that Abrar was beaten to death as we have found evidences in this regard. The duo (Mehedi and Fuad) have been taken into custody for questioning.”
“We have begun scrutinizing the CCTV footages and would watch all the video transcripts that were recorded in the cameras. No one would receive impunity regardless of what political parties they belong to," he told journalists.
Abrar Fahad, a second year student of electrical and electronic engineering department of the university, was allegedly beaten to death by some Chhatra League leaders for his alleged involvement with Islami Chhatra Shibir - the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.
Abrar was pronounced dead around 3am by Buet Medical Officer Dr Md Mashuk Elahi.
On Sunday night around 8pm, some third year students summoned Abrar and other second year students to Room No 2011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall, claimed Ashikul Islam Bitu, a second year student of chemical engineering department, also the assistant secretary of Buet Chhatra League.
Police official speaks with the media at Buet campus in Dhaka on Monday, October 7, 2019 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
He said: “We found evidence of Abrar's involvement with Chhatra Shibir after scrutinizing his Facebook activities and his messenger. We found that he had shown support to many posts by the Shibir run Facebook page called Basher Kella.
"I left the room later around 8.45pm and therefore, not aware of any beatings taking place there.”
Seeking anonymity, a Chhatra League leader claimed Anick Sarker, information and research affairs secretary of Buet Chhatra League, also a fourth year student of mechanical engineering; and Amit Shaha, deputy law affairs secretary of the same unit, led the attack.
Other alleged attackers are: Mujtaba Rafid, deputy office secretary and student of chemical engineering; Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, deputy social service secretary and student of biomedical engineering.
Police officials inspects a room at Buet campus in Dhaka where Buet student Abrar Fahad was allegedly beaten to death on Monday, October 7, 2019 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune
All of them are third year students, who hold legitimate positions in Chhatra League's Buet unit, and are supporters of Mehedi Hasan Rasel.
Mehedi told the Dhaka Tribune over phone around 5am that he heard one of the students from Sher-e-Bangla Hall was vomiting on the stairs. However, he was not aware that Abrar had died.
Later, Mehedi was unavailable for comments despite repeated attempts of call on his cell phone.
Abrar's body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue around 6am by an ambulance, Md Kamal Hossain, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Lalbagh division) told Dhaka Tribune.
He added: "We have not received any formal complaint regarding the matter. However, necessary legal actions will be taken against the culprits."
Abrar’s cousin, Abu Talha Rasel, staff reporter of Daily Arshinagar, told Dhaka Tribune: "It is impossible to find any involvement of my cousin with Chhatra Shibir.
"My uncle (Abrar’s father) is a non-government organization (NGO) employee and worked hard during the general election for Awami League lawmaker and Joint-General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif’s election campaign."
Meanwhile, when police officials began examining CCTV footages around 7am, they found that the camera stopped operating around 2:06am, as there were no recordings after that.
