Abrar Fahad’s family asks PM to include his story in textbooks

The family of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad, who was killed after being tortured by leaders and activists of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday and sought the inclusion of his story in school textbooks.

Abrar’s father Md Barkat Ullah, mother Rokeya Khatun, younger brother Abrar Faiyaz, an uncle and a maternal uncle met the prime minister at his office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat on Thursday (October 8) afternoon.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman spoke with the family members and inquired about their overall situation. Chhatra Dal central president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir were also present. During the meeting, Abrar’s younger brother Abrar Faiyaz asked the government to include the incident involving his brother in textbooks so that the new generation could learn about him.

Abrar’s father also sought the prime minister’s assistance in expediting the judicial process in his son’s murder case and implementing the verdict. In response, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the case is currently pending before the higher court and that the judiciary would independently complete the judicial proceedings. He assured the family that the government would provide all necessary assistance in this regard.

Family seeks bridge over Gorai River

Abrar’s father also asked the prime minister to build a bridge over the Gorai River in Kushtia. He said around 40,000 to 50,000 people in the area currently cross the river using a makeshift bamboo bridge. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assured him that the bridge would be built and promised that it would be named after Abrar Fahad.

Barkat Ullah also sought the prime minister’s assistance in completing the construction of a nearby mosque and paving the area around Abrar Fahad’s grave. In response, the prime minister instructed that construction of the mosque be completed immediately.

Family raises issue of absconding accused

During the meeting, Abrar’s father also raised the issue of the accused who remain at large in the murder case. He told the prime minister that the family was informed about one of the accused escaping from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail nearly six months after the inmate had fled. He demanded that those who escaped from prison and remain unarrested be brought under the law as soon as possible.

Abrar’s mother Rokeya Khatun urged the prime minister to ensure that no mother has to experience what she went through. “Every boy and girl on every campus is someone’s child, just like me. I want the environment in no campus to return to what it was before. I do not want any mother to lose her child like I did,” she said.

Faiyaz invites PM to BUET

During the meeting, Abrar’s younger brother Abrar Faiyaz invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit the BUET campus. He also demanded that a new residential hall be built at BUET in Abrar Fahad’s name.

In response to the demand, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman immediately spoke to the education secretary. Faiyaz also repeated his demand that Abrar Fahad’s story be included in textbooks so that the new generation can learn about him.

He further told the prime minister that the government had prepared a list of those killed during the July uprising. He called for a separate list of people who had been killed at different times before that, including Abrar Fahad.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said a related project was currently being processed by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and that work was underway on the matter.

How Abrar Fahad was killed

Seven years ago, on the night of October 6, 2019, BUET student Abrar Fahad was called to Room 2011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall, where he was beaten to death. Abrar’s home was in Raydanga village of Koya Union in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia.

The day before his death, on October 5, Abrar criticised several agreements and memorandums of understanding signed during then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in a Facebook post. He raised questions about Bangladesh-India relations over the use of Mongla Port, water from the Feni River and the export of gas to India.

The following night, several leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League called him to the hall and questioned him about the Facebook post. They subsequently beat him. After he became unconscious, he was left on the staircase of the hall. An autopsy found evidence of severe injuries and internal bleeding caused by excessive beating.

Following the killing, protests broke out at BUET and universities across the country. Students put forward a 10-point demand, including punishment for those responsible for the killing. On October 7, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a case against 19 people with Chawkbazar Police Station. After an investigation, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch submitted a charge sheet against 25 people.

On December 8, 2021, the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 sentenced 20 accused to death and five others to life imprisonment in the case. On March 16, 2025, the High Court upheld the verdict. Later, nine of the accused whose death sentences were upheld appealed against the High Court verdict before the Appellate Division. One of those sentenced to life imprisonment also filed a leave-to-appeal petition. The case is currently pending before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. After the meeting, members of Abrar Fahad’s family also spoke to journalists.