Mst Rokeya Khatun, the mother of slain Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad, expressed satisfaction and gratitude on Sunday after the High Court upheld the death penalty for 20 convicts and life sentences for five, demanding the swift execution of the verdict.
Rokeya Khatun conveyed her sentiments to reporters at her residence on PTI Road in Kushtia in the afternoon. "I am satisfied with the verdict given by the High Court in my son's murder case."
She continued: "Not only us, but the entire nation is satisfied. The 2022 [trial court] verdict has been upheld. When the first verdict was announced, the people of the country expressed their satisfaction as well. I express my gratitude to the current government, the judiciary, the students, the journalists, and the people of the country."
"Even six years after his death, no one has forgotten my son. Everyone still remembers my Abrar; no one has forgotten him," Rokeya added.
Demanding that all educational institutions in the country be free from ragging, she said: "Currently, there is no oppression and torture. Similarly, all educational institutions across the country should always remain safe. In the future, no one should have to lose their child as I did.
“The dreams and aspirations of students must not be destroyed. The verdict that has been given should be executed quickly so that no one can commit atrocities like they did against Abrar. No one should dare to engage in such acts. Teachers in all educational institutions should treat students as their own children and discipline them like parents."
On the night of October 6, 2019, Abrar Fahad was beaten to death in Sher-e-Bangla Hall of Buet.
The following day, on October 7, his father, Barkat Ullah, filed a murder case at Chawkbazar police station, accusing 19 people.
After completing the investigation in just 37 days, the investigation officer, DB Inspector Md Wahiduzzaman, submitted the charge sheet on November 13 of the same year.
Later, on December 8, 2021, a trial court sentenced 20 people to death and five others to life imprisonment in the murder case.
On January 6, 2022, the death reference and case files were sent to the High Court for approval of the 20 death sentences in the murder case of Buet student Abrar Fahad.
The death reference and all case documents, totaling 6,627 pages, were sent from Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 to the High Court's Death Reference Section.
