6 years on, what happened that night: The Abrar Murder

Today marks six years since the brutal murder of Abrar Fahad, a brilliant student at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). On the night of October 6, 2019, Abrar was beaten to death in Sher-e-Bangla Hall by a group of Chhatra League leaders. His body was recovered from the hall stairs around 3:00am the next day. Justice remains elusive even after six years.

Abrar's mother Rokeya Khatun said, “Chhatra League boys called him out and tortured him to death. Some were his friends, but none informed us even once.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she spoke of her son. In a choked voice, she showed his watch, bag, books, ID card, and some chocolates: “Abrar used to eat chocolate before bed. I've kept them for six years. The watch has stopped; how long will it stay like this?”

Abrar was a student in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, residing in room 1011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall. On October 5, 2019, he posted on Facebook about the Bangladesh-India agreement. The next night, Chhatra League leaders lured him from his room, beat him in room 2011, and dumped his body on the stairs.

How the murder unfolded

Abrar returned from his Kushtia village home on October 6 afternoon and spoke to his mother on the phone from room 1011. Around 8:00pm, Chhatra League members woke him and took him to room 2011, occupied by four leaders.

They seized his laptop and two phones, checked his Facebook and Messenger, labeled him a "Shibir leader," and began the assault with cricket stumps. More leaders joined, beating him relentlessly until he went limp. Around 2:00am, they dragged his body to the stairs between the first and second floors.

A resident said he heard screams from room 2011 until midnight but avoided intervening. Room 2011 was known as Chhatra League's "torture center."

The next morning, the hall awoke to horror. Abrar's roommates and classmates initially stayed silent but later revealed the body lay in room 2011 for hours before being dumped.

The hall provost and doctor confirmed Abrar was dead by 3:00am. Police were alerted immediately.

CCTV captures the attackers' faces

A 1.5-minute CCTV footage showed Abrar being dragged from the room after the beating. One man ran ahead, then three carried him like a swing, followed by others, one on his phone. Chhatra League sources said the footage includes both leaders and workers. Police are verifying additional CCTV.

Who was in that room

Room 2011 housed Chhatra League's general secretary Mehdi Hasan Russell and joint vice-president Muhtasim Fuad, among four leaders. During the torture, present were Russell (general secretary, CE 13th batch), Robin (organizational secretary, Chemical Engineering 15th batch), Apu (research secretary, Mechanical Engineering 15th batch), Monir (literature secretary, Water Resources Engineering 16th batch), Ziyon (sports secretary, Marine Engineering 15th batch), Sakal (social service deputy secretary, Biomedical Engineering 16th batch), Bitu (deputy secretary), Jiyon (sports secretary, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering), Anik Sarkar (research secretary, Mechanical Engineering), Jemie (member), Tanjim (member), Mujahidur Rahman (member), Shamim Billah (Marine Engineering 17th batch), Majed (MME 17th batch), Tanvir (Mechanical 17th batch), Morshed-uz-Zaman Mandal Jisan (EEE 16th batch), Nazmus Sadat (ME 17th batch), Morshed Amarty Islam (ME 17th batch), Mizanur Rahman (Water Resources 16th batch), Rafat (Mechanical Engineering), Mujtaba Rafid (deputy department secretary, Chemical), and Setu (Chemical).

The verdict

Abrar's father Barkat Ullah filed a case against 19 at Chowkbazar Police Station the next day. On November 13, 2019, a chargesheet named 25 accused.

On December 8, 2021, Dhaka's Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 sentenced 20 to death and 5 to life imprisonment.

The death reference reached the High Court on January 6, 2022. Appeals followed.

On March 16, 2025, the High Court upheld the verdicts.

Death row convicts: Mehdi Hasan Russell (general secretary, CE 13th batch), Mehdi Hasan Robin (organizational secretary, Chemical Engineering 15th batch), Anik Sarkar Apu (research secretary, Mechanical Engineering 15th batch), Moniruzzaman Monir (literature secretary, Water Resources Engineering 16th batch), Miftaul Islam Ziyon (sports secretary, Marine Engineering 15th batch), Ifti Mosarraf Sakal (social service deputy secretary, Biomedical Engineering 16th batch), Munatasir Al Jemie (member), Ehiteshamul Rabbi Tanjim (member), Mujahidur Rahman (EEE 16th batch), Hosain Mohammad Toha (ME 17th batch), Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanjim (CE 17th batch), Shamim Billah (Marine Engineering 17th batch), Majedur Rahman Majed (MME 17th batch), Khondkar Tabakkarul Islam Tanvir (Mechanical 17th batch), Muhammad Morshed-uz-Zaman Mandal Jisan (EEE 16th batch), SM Nazmus Sadat (ME 17th batch), Morshed Amarty Islam (ME 17th batch), Mizanur Rahman (Water Resources 16th batch), Shamchul Arefin Rafat (Mechanical Engineering), deputy department secretary Mujtaba Rafid (Chemical), and SM Mahmud Setu (Chemical).

Life sentences: Muhtasim Fuad (joint vice-president, 14th batch CE), Muntassir Al Jemie (literature secretary, Mechanical 3rd year), Amit Saha (law deputy secretary, Civil Engineering), Akash Hossain (member, CE 16th batch), and Moaz Abu Horayra (CSE 17th batch).

That day's horror

On October 6, 2019, around 3:00am, Abrar's body was found on Sher-e-Bangla Hall stairs. The previous day, October 5, he posted on Facebook about the Bangladesh-India agreement.

That night, Chhatra League leaders called him from room 1011 to room 2011, occupied by four leaders. They checked his devices, accused him of Shibir ties, and beat him with cricket stumps.

More leaders joined, continuing the assault until he was motionless. Around 2:00am, they dumped his body on the stairs.

Screams echoed from room 2011 until midnight. The next morning, the hall discovered the tragedy, alerting the provost and doctor, who confirmed death.

CCTV showed the perpetrators dragging the body, with one running ahead and others following, one on the phone. Sources said it includes leaders and workers; police are checking more footage.

Room 2011 was Chhatra League's known "torture center."

The murder sparked nationwide outrage, with Abrar's family demanding justice six years on.