Students, family members, and well-wishers of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology鈥檚 slain student Abrar Fahad on Monday urged the government to ensure justice over the murder five years ago.
They, addressing a rally organised by the Abrar Fahad Memorial Society at Plassey crossing in the capital marking Abrar鈥檚 death anniversary, also demanded to the government to announce October 7, the day of Abrar鈥檚 death, as the 鈥楴ational Anti-Aggression Day鈥�.
Abrar Fahad was beaten to death on October 7, 2019, by a group of leaders and activists of the BUET chapter of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, reportedly in response to his Facebook posts criticising the government鈥檚 deals with India.
His murder, which occurred during the regime of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, sparked widespread protests both at home and abroad.
Addressing the rally at Plassey Crossing, Hasnat Abdullah, one of the key coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, alleged that they were witnessing that the political parties had a tendency to forgive a political party that continued oppression on campuses across the country for the past 16 years.
Abrar鈥檚 father, Barkat Ullah, said, 鈥楳y son spoke out against injustice, which is why BCL terrorists murdered him.鈥�
He demanded the highest punishment for his son鈥檚 killers.
Mahmudur Rahman, the acting editor of the Daily Amar Desh, said, 鈥榳e have won the first phase, but we must continue our fight against the aggression of Delhi.鈥�
He also urged the authorities to rename Bangabandhu Avenue after Abrar Fahad.
The rally began with a moment of silence in memory of Abrar.
After the rally, the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the Anti-Aggression Octagonal Monument was laid at Plassey.
In 2020, the monument was built at Plassey to preserve Abrar鈥檚 memory, but it was destroyed allegedly by BCL activists.
The rally was attended, among others, by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement coordinators Sarjis Alam, Abdul Kader and Abu Baker Mazumdar.
Another rally, under the banner of 鈥楴irapad Bangladesh Chai鈥�, was held in front of the National Museum in the capital Monday afternoon to mark the death anniversary of Abrar, said a press release.
The rally was addressed by Dhaka University unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir president Shadik Kayem and Abrar鈥檚 younger brother Abrar Faiyaz.
The death reference of BUET鈥檚 20 expelled students, sentenced to death in 2022 for the murder of Abrar, remained pending in the High Court for over two years, officials said.
The officials at the High Court said that the court was currently processing death references filed up to 2019, and the chief justice鈥檚 approval was required to expedite cases like Abrar murder, which were received in 2022.
