Dhaka: The High Court of Bangladesh has upheld the death penalty for 20 students of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), who were convicted of brutally lynching their fellow student Abrar Fahad in 2019.
The two-judge bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain announced the decision, affirming the trial court’s verdict and rejecting the appeals filed by the convicts.
The students, affiliated with the now-disbanded Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League, targeted Fahad after he posted comments on Facebook criticising government policies.
Investigations revealed that Fahad, a second-year electrical and electronics student, was tortured for nearly six hours using a cricket bat and blunt objects.
His lifeless body was discovered in his dormitory the following morning, shocking the nation.
In addition to confirming the death sentences, the court also upheld life imprisonment for five other students involved in the attack.
Attorney General M Asaduzzaman stated that the verdict reflects the severity of the crime and sends a strong message against such acts of violence.
Fahad’s father expressed satisfaction with the ruling but emphasized the need for swift implementation.
“We are satisfied with the High Court’s decision. However, the verdict must be executed without delay,” he told reporters.
Fahad’s brother Faiyaz also welcomed the judgment, saying, “The ruling was delivered swiftly by the High Court, which we appreciate, though many legal steps remain.”
Defense lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu, however, voiced disappointment with the outcome and confirmed plans to appeal to the Appellate Division, expressing hope for a different result.
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The case took a dramatic turn last year when one of the death row inmates, Muntasir Al Jamie, escaped from the Kashipur Central Jail during political unrest.
He was among 86 inmates who fled the high-security facility following mass protests and the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime. Jamie’s escape remains a significant concern, with authorities continuing efforts to locate and apprehend him.
The lynching of Abrar Fahad, which highlighted the dangers of political violence on university campuses, provoked widespread outrage across Bangladesh and led to immediate expulsions of the accused students by BUET and the BCL.
With this verdict, the High Court has reaffirmed its commitment to justice, though the final resolution may still face further legal challenges.
