A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced 20 accused to death and five others to life term imprisonment in the case filed over the murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad.

Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 announced the verdict on Wednesday.

Earlier in the morning, the 22 accused in the murder case have been produced before a Dhaka court from Keraniganj Central Jail.

The 20 death convicts include Ifty Mosharaf Sakal, Mehedi Hassan Rasel, Anik Sarker, Mizanur Rahman, Mehedi Hassan Robin, Moniruzzaman Monir, Mahmud Setu, Shamsul Arifin Rafat, Morshed Omorto Islam, Ehtesamul Rabbi, Morshed Uzzaman Jishan, Meftahul Islam Jiyon, Majedur Rahman, Muzahidur Rahman, Tabakhairul Islam Tanvir, Hossen Mohammad Toha, Shamim Billah, Nazmus Shadat, Muntasir Al Jemi and Mujtaba Rafeed.

The 5 lifetimers are Omit Shaha, Akash Hossain, Muhtasim Fuyad, Mowaz Abu Horaira and Istiaq Hassan Munna.

Among the 25 accused, three of them - Jishan, Rafid and Tanim - remained absconding.

On October 7, 2019, Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department of BUET, was beaten to death by Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders at the university’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall.

Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah later filed a murder case with Chawkbazar Police Station accusing 19 people.

On November 13, 2019, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector and investigation officer of the case Wahiduzzaman submitted the charge sheet against the 25 accused.

On September 15, 2020, the court framed charges against the accused.

The court recorded statements of 47 out of the 60 witnesses in the case.

On March 14 this year, the arrested 22 accused in the case claimed innocence on account of self-defense.

After the completion of the argument of both state and defendant, the tribunal on November 14 fixed November 28 to deliver the verdict. However, the court on that day rescheduled the delivery of the verdict on December 8.

ARR