Father of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad has urged university authorities to implement the decisions made in compliance with the five demands placed by protesting students.
Abrar's father Barkat Ullah made these remarks to the reporters Saturday night, as a response to Buet administration issuing several statements complying with the students' demand.
Earlier on October 13, Buet authorities issued written statements accepting the five demands by the protesting students, according to the decisions taken during the meeting held between Buet Vice Chancellor Prof Saiful Islam and the protesting students the previous day.
Barkat Ullah said: "I want to see an immediate response to the decisions that were taken, not just washing their hands of the matter after issuing an official notice."
He said Buet authorities have previously issued multiple notices after taking various decisions to stop ragging. However, none of those decisions were implemented.
He further said: "If those decisions were put into effect before, my son [Abrar] would still be alive today."
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"I do not want Buet authorities to just accept demands; I want to see them executing those demands too."
If Buet authorities do not execute the students' demands, then it will be a grave injustice towards Abrar, he added.
In addition to that, Abrar's father said: "Trial proceedings for cases like these usually take a long time. Sometimes, we also witness the culprits getting out on bail.
"Families of victims are threatened and coerced for withdrawing the case. In the end, it is seen that only six out of 10 accused are actually getting punished, while others walk away scot-free."
He said he did not want such circumstances to occur in Abrar's murder case, and demanded that the case be taken to a speedy trial tribunal, so that it is completed within shortest span of time.
"Capital punishment must be ensured for the killers," he demanded.
What happened to Abrar Fahad?
Abrar, of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, was beaten to death inside the university’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours of October 7.
Several Chhatra League leaders have been accused of mercilessly torturing him for hours and beating him to death, after accusing him of being involved with Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.
Many other students on campus have also come forth with accounts of severe bullying, harassment and torture by BCL members.
Abrar's father filed a murder case against 19 people at Chawkbazar police station on evening of October 7. As of Saturday, 19 people have been detained in connection with the case.
Of the detainees, Deputy Social Service Secretary of Buet Chhatra League Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Sports Secretary Meftahul Islam Zion, and Information and Research Secretary Anick Sarkar gave their confessional statements before a judicial magistrate.
