BUET students call off street protests

Vow to abstain from classes, exams until demands met

Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) yesterday withdrew their protests on the streets over the murder of fellow Abrar Fahad, as the university authorities accepted most of their demands. The protesting students, however, said they would boycott all the academic activities until the killers are permanently expelled from the university and law enforcers submit the charge-sheet in Abrar Fahad murder case. The protesting students made the announcement at a press briefing at BUET Shaheed Minar around 5:45pm. Sayem, a spokesperson of the movement and fourth year student of BUET, made the announcement and said they will not return to the classes until the murder accused are expelled permanently. “As the law enforcement agencies and the BUET authorities are trying their best to ensure Justice for Abrar as well as meet all of our demand, we decided to postpone out

protests from streets or field but it will continue until permanent expulsion of the murderers,” he said. "BUET authorities must suspend all who are involved in Abrar's murder after getting the charge sheet from concerned authorities", he added.

"A group of miscreants are try to achieve their own interest by using the issue of Abrar's murder but we want to make our position clear that we have no link with them,” he added. The protesting students also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking prompt actions against the killers. The student, together with teachers, will observe a mass oath-taking programme on the campus today against all kinds of crime and injustice, Sayem announced.

Earlier on Saturday, the protesters postponed their demonstrations for Sunday and Monday to facilitate the entry test of the university held on Monday after the university authorities accepted five of their demands.

In five notices signed by BUET acting Registrar Dr Md Saidur Rahman, the university on Saturday declared a ban on organisational politics, pledged drives against illegal occupants at residential halls and sealing off offices of student organisations on the campus. It also announced that a web

portal will be introduced where students can lodge complaints about ragging or other forms of torture. The BUET authorities also said the students accused in the Abrar Fahad murder case would be expelled after investigators submit the charge-sheet.

The university authorities also announced to bear the expenses of legal proceedings of the murder case in favour of Abrar’s family and bring every floor of the university dormitories under round-the-clock CCTV surveillance.

Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies have arrested another accused in connection with the murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad yesterday.

The arrestee, identified as ASM Nazmus Sadat, was held from Katla bazaar area in Birampur of Dinajpur early yesterday at around 3:30am, said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Nazmus, whose name was included in the FIR, is a 17th batch student of Mechanical Engineering Department in BUET.   

UNB adds: Expelled BCL leader Moniruzzaman Monir has reportedly confessed before a court in Dhaka to his involvement in the murder Abrar Fahad.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarafuzzaman Ansari recorded the confessional statement of Monir, a 3rd year student of Water Resources Engineering department at BUET and expelled literature secretary of Buet unit BCL.

With him, a total of five accused have so far confessed to their involvement in the gruesome murder.

Meanwhile, the court placed Shamsul Arefin Rafat, a 2nd year student of Mechanical Engineer department of BUET, on a four-day fresh remand when Detective Branch Inspector Wahiduzzaman, also the investigation officer of the case, produced him before the court on expiry of his five-day remand.

Besides, the court sent Md Akash Hossain, a 3rd-year student of Civil Engineering department, to jail on completion of his five-day remand.

On October 9, Monir, Rafat and Akash were placed on a five-day remand in the case.

With Nazmus’ arrest, so far 20 people have been arrested in the case and several of them remanded.

Abrar Fahad, 21, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering department of BUET, was beaten to death at Sher-e-Bangla Hall allegedly by leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League BUET unit.

He was found dead on the staircase of the dormitory in the early hours of October 7 after the BCL leaders beat him at room number 2011 and 2005 over his suspected link to Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Later, his father filed a murder case against 19 BUET students, mostly BCL leaders, and several others unnamed with Chawkbazar Police Station in the capital.  

The brutal murder triggered a firestorm of protests on university campuses across the country. 

 

BUET students call off street protests

Vow to abstain from classes, exams until demands met

Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) yesterday withdrew their protests on the streets over the murder of fellow Abrar Fahad, as the university authorities accepted most of their demands. The protesting students, however, said they would boycott all the academic activities until the killers are permanently expelled from the university and law enforcers submit the charge-sheet in Abrar Fahad murder case. The protesting students made the announcement at a press briefing at BUET Shaheed Minar around 5:45pm. Sayem, a spokesperson of the movement and fourth year student of BUET, made the announcement and said they will not return to the classes until the murder accused are expelled permanently. As the law enforcement agencies and the BUET authorities are trying their best to ensure Justice for Abrar as well as meet all of our demand, we decided to postpone out protests from streets or field but it will continue until permanent expulsion of the murderers, he said. BUET authorities must suspend all who are involved in Abrars murder after getting the charge sheet from concerned authorities, he added. A group of miscreants are try to achieve their own interest by using the issue of Abrars murder but we want to make our position clear that we have no link with them, he added. The protesting students also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking prompt actions against the killers. The student, together with teachers, will observe a mass oath-taking programme on the campus today against all kinds of crime and injustice, Sayem announced. Earlier on Saturday, the protesters postponed their demonstrations for Sunday and Monday to facilitate the entry test of the university held on Monday after the university authorities accepted five of their demands. In five notices signed by BUET acting Registrar Dr Md Saidur Rahman, the university on Saturday declared a ban on organisational politics, pledged drives against illegal occupants at residential halls and sealing off offices of student organisations on the campus. It also announced that a web portal will be introduced where students can lodge complaints about ragging or other forms of torture. The BUET authorities also said the students accused in the Abrar Fahad murder case would be expelled after investigators submit the charge-sheet. The university authorities also announced to bear the expenses of legal proceedings of the murder case in favour of Abrars family and bring every floor of the university dormitories under round-the-clock CCTV surveillance. Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies have arrested another accused in connection with the murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad yesterday. The arrestee, identified as ASM Nazmus Sadat, was held from Katla bazaar area in Birampur of Dinajpur early yesterday at around 3:30am, said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Nazmus, whose name was included in the FIR, is a 17th batch student of Mechanical Engineering Department in BUET. UNB adds: Expelled BCL leader Moniruzzaman Monir has reportedly confessed before a court in Dhaka to his involvement in the murder Abrar Fahad. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarafuzzaman Ansari recorded the confessional statement of Monir, a 3rd year student of Water Resources Engineering department at BUET and expelled literature secretary of Buet unit BCL. With him, a total of five accused have so far confessed to their involvement in the gruesome murder. Meanwhile, the court placed Shamsul Arefin Rafat, a 2nd year student of Mechanical Engineer department of BUET, on a four-day fresh remand when Detective Branch Inspector Wahiduzzaman, also the investigation officer of the case, produced him before the court on expiry of his five-day remand. Besides, the court sent Md Akash Hossain, a 3rd-year student of Civil Engineering department, to jail on completion of his five-day remand. On October 9, Monir, Rafat and Akash were placed on a five-day remand in the case. With Nazmus arrest, so far 20 people have been arrested in the case and several of them remanded. Abrar Fahad, 21, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering department of BUET, was beaten to death at Sher-e-Bangla Hall allegedly by leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League BUET unit. He was found dead on the staircase of the dormitory in the early hours of October 7 after the BCL leaders beat him at room number 2011 and 2005 over his suspected link to Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Later, his father filed a murder case against 19 BUET students, mostly BCL leaders, and several others unnamed with Chawkbazar Police Station in the capital. The brutal murder triggered a firestorm of protests on university campuses across the country.