BUET students have expressed their satisfaction with the High Court`s decision to uphold the death sentences for 20 individuals and life sentences for five others in connection with the brutal murder of Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
However, they have also urged the authorities to ensure the swift execution of the verdict to provide justice for Abrar and his family.
The tragic incident dates back to October 7, 2019, when members of the now-banned Chhatra League mercilessly beat Abrar to death.
In December 2021, the trial court sentenced 20 Chhatra League members to death and five to life imprisonment for their involvement in the killing.
The recent High Court ruling, delivered by a bench comprising Justice A.K.M. Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahman, upheld these sentences, a decision that has been well-received by the student body.
"We are satisfied with the ruling and demand that this verdict be executed as soon as possible," said BUET students in response to the court`s decision.
They see the swift enforcement of the ruling as crucial for delivering justice in this heinous crime.
The students also voiced their concern over the escape of Muntasir Al Jemi, one of the convicts sentenced to death, following the political upheaval in the country after August 5.
Muntasir, a student from the Mechanical Engineering Department`s 17th batch, was sentenced to death for his direct involvement in Abrar`s murder.
The students condemned his escape from custody and called it a "shameful act," urging the authorities to bring him and other fugitives to justice.
"The fact that such a high-profile convict was able to escape from the supposedly secure death row is both disgraceful and a betrayal of the blood shed by Abrar," said one of the students.
They stressed the need for immediate action to capture Jemi and hold those who aided his escape accountable.
"The prison authorities and the Ministry of Home Affairs must take responsibility for this serious lapse," they added.
Additionally, BUET students reiterated their strong stance against student politics, particularly the violent kind, on their campus.
They emphasized that organizations like Chhatra League, which have a history of violence, have no place at BUET.
"We want to make it very clear that there is no room for any form of violence, injustice, or misconduct under the banner of student politics on the BUET campus. We are vigilant and determined to prevent any such activity, no matter which student group is involved. We want BUET to remain a peaceful and academic institution, free from any form of student politics," the students stated.
The students also urged other student organizations and those in positions of influence to help maintain peace and discipline on campus, ensuring that BUET continues to be a place of knowledge and learning.