Family members of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad, who was beaten to death allegedly by the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, yesterday said that Abrar had no affiliation with any political party. “My son never became second in any examinations. He got chance wherever he applied including Dhaka University for higher education,” Abrar’s mother Rokeya Khatun with tearful eyes told media men at her house when some reporters visited the house. Abrar’s family lives at a house of PTI Road in Kushtia town. He had a long-cherished dream to become an acclaimed engineer since his childhood and to materialise his dream, Abrar worked very hard and finally got admitted at BUET, Rokeya said.

“I went to the bus station in person to see him off…He left Kushtia for Dhaka on Sunday. I talked with him three to four times during his bus journey…he called me to inform that he reached the hall safely.” Later, she called Abrar several times at night but did not get response. Breaking down in tears, Abrar’s mother demanded the law enforcers to find out the killers immediately and bring them to book. Brushing aside the allegation of Abrar’s involvement in Shibir, his uncle Mizanur Rahman said people are spreading rumours about his political affiliation.

“Abrar used to offer prayers and went to Tabligh-Jamaat two or three times after his enrolment at BUET,” Rahman said. “All of our family members are the supporters of Awami League (AL). Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah and I are used to attend AL meeting regularly. Barkat Ullah is an NGO official. Abrar Fahad, in his last Facebook post, expressed his critical views concerning Bangladesh’s agreement with India which will allow the neighbouring country to withdraw water from Feni River.

Abrar, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering department of the university, was allegedly beaten to death in the early hours yesterday by some Chhatra League leaders for his alleged involvement with Islami Chhatra Shibir. Abrar died of “internal bleeding and excessive pain” as he was badly beaten up by blunt objects like cricket stump or bamboo stick, doctors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital said after his autopsy.