Six yrs on, no justice for Abrar: Father’s plea

Bangladesh desk: Barkat Ullah, father of murdered BUET student Abrar Fahad, has voiced his grief and anger over the lack of full justice even six years after his son’s killing.

Addressing a national rally organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Saturday, he said, “My son was killed simply for loving his country and speaking the truth.”

He recalled the horrifying night of October 6, 2019, when Abrar was tortured to death by members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) inside BUET’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall.

His only “crime,” according to his father, was a Facebook post criticizing secret water-sharing deals between Bangladesh and India, including the diversion of water from the Feni River and the export of hilsa fish at the cost of local demand.

“Abrar had written about how India was taking our river water while we weren’t getting our fair share. He questioned why our national resources were being given away so cheaply. For that, my son was beaten to death,” Barkat Ullah stated.

He accused the government of the time, led by Sheikh Hasina, of fostering a one-sided policy that ignored dissenting voices and created systemic inequality.

Expressing his continued pain and sense of helplessness, he said, “Six years have passed, yet I have not seen full justice for my son. As a father, I demand it again; I want justice for Abrar.”

Barkat Ullah also addressed broader issues of campus violence and ragging, which still persist in various universities. Referring to the current interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he questioned why such practices haven’t been eradicated.

He acknowledged that the transitional government has started compiling lists of young people who died in political violence during July and August but lamented that deaths caused by ragging and campus brutality are still overlooked.

“I urge the government to prepare an official list of all students who have died due to ragging and torture, just as they are listing other victims,” he said.

His emotional speech reflected years of pent-up sorrow and frustration, concluding with a heartfelt appeal to the conscience of the nation: “My son loved his country, and that became his offense. I’ve sought justice time and again, but the process remains unfinished. I call upon the conscientious citizens of this country; please ensure justice for Abrar.”