The family of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad, who was beaten to death by members of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League in 2019, met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday and sought swift completion of the judicial process in the case.

Abrar’s father, Md Barkat Ullah, mother Rokeya Khatun, younger brother Abrar Faiyaz, an uncle and a maternal uncle met the Prime Minister at his office at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat at about 5pm.

Barkat Ullah sought the Prime Minister’s cooperation in completing the murder case and executing the verdict.

Tarique said the case was pending before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court and that the court would proceed independently. He assured the family that the government would provide all necessary assistance.

Barkat Ullah also sought a bridge over the Gorai River in Kushtia, saying about 40,000 to 50,000 people in the area use a makeshift bridge to cross the river. The Prime Minister assured him that a bridge would be built and promised it would be named after Abrar Fahad.

He also sought assistance to pave Abrar’s grave and complete construction of a nearby mosque. The Prime Minister directed that the mosque’s construction be completed immediately.

Barkat Ullah also raised the issue of fugitives in the murder case. He said the family had been informed about six months after one of the accused escaped from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail. He urged that those who escaped or remain at large be brought to justice.

Abrar’s mother appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure that no other family suffers a similar loss.

“Every student on every campus is someone’s child, just as my son was. I want to see that the environment we had before never returns to any campus. No mother should have to suffer the kind of loss I have suffered,” Rokeya Khatun said.

Abrar’s younger brother invited the Prime Minister to visit BUET and called for a new hall at the university to be named after his brother. Tarique immediately spoke to the education secretary about the demand.

Faiyaz also sought the inclusion of Abrar’s story in textbooks and called for a government list of people killed at different times before the July movement, in addition to the list of those killed during the movement.

The Prime Minister said a related project was being processed by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.

Central Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir were also present.

After the meeting, members of Abrar’s family spoke to journalists.

Abrar, a BUET student from Kushtia, was beaten to death in Room 2011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall on the night of Oct. 6, 2019, after several Chhatra League leaders summoned him and questioned him about a Facebook post criticising agreements and understandings signed during then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India.

His father filed a murder case against 19 people on Oct. 7. The Detective Branch later submitted a charge sheet against 25 people.

In December 2021, the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 sentenced 20 accused to death and five to life imprisonment. The High Court upheld the verdict on March 16, 2025.

Nine death-row convicts subsequently appealed to the Appellate Division, while one of those sentenced to life imprisonment filed a leave-to-appeal petition. The case is now pending before the Appellate Division.