Abrar Fahad Murder: 22 accused appeal for case transfer

Twenty-two accused of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) student Abrar Fahad murder case have filed a petition with the High Court for transferring the case from the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 of Dhaka, apprehending that they "will not get justice" from the tribunal.

The accused, now in jail, submitted the petition recently to the HC through their lawyer, expressing no confidence in the judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 Abu Zafar Md Kamruzzaman.

Their lawyer Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury told The Daily Star yesterday the HC will hear on the petition today.

Citing the petition, he said Judge Kamruzzaman on November 30 recorded statement of the 39th prosecution witness and set December 3 for recording statement of the 40th witness.   On December 3, the judge of the tribunal recalled the statement earlier given by the 33rd witness (a police officer) without issuing any prior notice.

Besides, the public prosecutor had earlier posted a status on the issue on Facebook, he said.

The accused petitioners apprehended that the judge may have an intention, and that is why, they submitted the petition to the HC seeking transfer of the case from the tribunal, the lawyer added.

Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar told this correspondent that the case is a sensational one. It has been sent to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 for finishing its trial proceedings quickly, he said.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin will place arguments on behalf of the state before the HC during hearing of the case transfer related petition.

Judge Kamruzzaman on September 15 framed charges against all 25 accused. Of them, three have been absconding.

Forty out of 60 prosecution witnesses, including the case's complainant, so far gave depositions.

On October 7 last year, Abrar, a second-year student of Buet, was beaten to death by a group of Buet unit Chhatra League activists in a dormitory. Abrar's father filed a murder case in this regard with Chawkbazar Police Station.

The incident triggered a firestorm of protests on campuses across the country. Many took to social media to demand justice for Abrar. Amid protests, Buet authorities on October 11 banned all political activities on the campus and suspended 19 students, mostly leaders of the university's BCL unit who have been made accused in the case.

Eight of the accused gave their confessional statements before magistrates on different days last year.

Inspector Md Wahiduzaman of police's Detective Branch submitted the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka against 25 Buet students on November 13 last year.