High Court to announce verdict on death penalty appeals in Abrar Fahad murder case tomorrow

The High Court is set to deliver its much-anticipated judgment tomorrow, Sunday, on the death reference and appeals in the brutal murder case of Abrar Fahad, a student at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). 

This decision could potentially confirm or overturn the lower court’s earlier verdicts against the convicted individuals.

A bench of the High Court comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahim has listed the appeals of the convicted men for a ruling on their upcoming cause list. 

The judgment is expected to provide a final resolution on the fate of the convicted persons.

On February 24, the High Court reserved the case for judgment after concluding the hearing of appeals. 

The case involves 20 individuals who were sentenced to death and five others who received life imprisonment for their roles in the murder. 

The convicted men, all of whom were expelled leaders and activists of the BUET unit of the now-outlawed student organization Chhatra League, have been awaiting this verdict since their sentencing.

Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering at BUET, was tragically beaten to death in his dormitory.

His lifeless body was discovered in the Sher-e-Bangla Hall of BUET on the morning of October 7, 2019. 

The murder shocked the nation and led to widespread protests, calling for justice.

Following the discovery of his body, Abrar‍‍`s father filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station, seeking accountability for the killing of his son. 

Investigations revealed that Abrar had been subjected to hours of torture by fellow students due to his critical stance on social media regarding Bangladesh’s energy agreements with India.

In December 2021, the trial court delivered its verdict, sentencing 20 individuals to death and five others to life imprisonment. 

The convicts were all found guilty of participating in the horrific crime, with the court describing the murder as "barbaric and senseless."

Now, with the High Court set to announce its final judgment, many are hoping for closure to this deeply painful chapter. 

The ruling will determine whether the original sentences handed down by the lower court will stand or be modified. 

The nation waits for tomorrow’s decision with bated breath, as the case has garnered widespread attention, both for its shocking nature and the legal implications.

This verdict could also set an important precedent in Bangladesh’s judicial system, as it deals with the sensitive issue of campus violence and student-led brutality.