Bangladesh News: The Dhaka High Court has upheld the death sentence of 20 students in a 2019 murder case in Bangladesh. These students were found guilty of beating their partner Abrar Fahd. Fahd had posted a post against Sheikh Hasina government on Facebook at that time, after which the workers of Awami League student organization brutally beat him to death. In 2021, the lower court convicted all the accused and sentenced him to death, which has now been approved by the High Court.
The Dhaka High Court has upheld the death sentence of 20 students as well as the life sentence of five other students. Fahd’s family has expressed satisfaction over this decision, while the defense lawyer has said that he will appeal to the upper court. A convict Muntasir is still absconding from jail in this case. All the guilty students were associated with Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
The case took political color
The case of this punishment received by the students in Bangladesh is taking political form as all the convicted students were members of BCL (Bangladesh Students League). BCL is the student branch of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party Awami League. Fahd had criticized the government’s policies in his Facebook post, which angered the students of BCL and attacked him. However, after the incident came to light, the party had fired all the culprits.
Lower court sentenced to death
In December 2021, a lower court in Dhaka sentenced the convicted students to death. At that time, Sheikh Hasina had a Awami League government in Bangladesh. Five other students were sentenced to life imprisonment. Now the bench of High Court Justice Asdujman and Justice Syed Antyt Hussain has upheld this decision. The bench said that they are satisfied with the decision of the High Court and should be implemented as soon as possible.
‘We are satisfied with the decision’
Fahad’s brother Fayaz said that he did not expect a decision from the High Court so soon, but he is satisfied with this. However, he also admitted that many legal procedures remain. At the same time, defense lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu expressed disappointment over the verdict. He said that he will appeal to the Appellate Department and hope that there will be justice from there.
https://www.abplive.com/news/world/bangladesh-high-court-upheld-the-death-sentence-of-20-students-know-their-connection-with-sheikh-hasina-s-party-2905302
