We were only following instructions, say Abrar murder accused

Expelled members of Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL) Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) unit – who mercilessly beat Abrar Fahad to death – had shown loyalty to their seniors.

Anik Sarker, the expelled information and research secretary of Buet BCL, confessed before the court on Saturday.

Anik is now feeling guilty for the crime he had committed and also confessed that he had no intention to kill Abrar, claim court sources.

However, the accused also confessed that he beat Abrar the most and the second-year student might have died for his cruelty.

Before Abrar, the BCL men also tortured the students who raised voice against their abuse. 

"This is nothing new in Buet. The senior Chhatra League members assigned and instructed us to beat any Shibir affiliated students," Anik said in the statement.

"Everyone is blaming me for the death, but I just followed instructions. The seniors also threatened me with consequences if I had failed.  This is how Buet Chhatra league works," Anik broke in tears, the sources confirmed.

Anik also confessed that he had beaten Abrar with cricket stump violently and continuously for more than one hour.

Before and after the merciless beating, Anik had liquor and he did not think that Abrar would die so soon. 

"After the beating, I had a drink and went to my room – 507 – and pretended that nothing had happened," Anik said.

He also made Buet BCL leaders Mehedi Hasan Rasel, expelled general secretary, Mehedi Hasan Robin, expelled organizing secretary, responsible for the murder and planning.

"They made us so cruel. I wasn't like this when I came to Buet from Notre Dame College. I was always smiling, but I don't know why I became this much cruel," Anik said.

He also described the murder – how it happened that night – from the beginning.

Another accused, Meftahul Islam Zion also gave confessional statements before the court on Friday evening.

Meftahul confessed that Anik, Ifti Mossharraf Sakal and he beat Abrar the most while claiming that they were just following the BCL high command's instructions.

"We would beat anyone – senior or junior – but accidentally Abrar died. The system made us that cruel. If we could force out anyone of different opinions from Buet campus, the BCL high command would praise us," Meftahul confessed.

Inspector Wahiduzzaman, the investigation officer of the case, declined to make any comment.

Mahbub Alam, the joint commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch, said that three accused have already confessed, while few more are ready to confess.

"Nothing else. We're investigating the case. So, I cannot give any details now. Media will be briefed when the investigation is done," said Mahbub.   

 "We always protest any kind of terrorist activities and have been working to ensure a supportive academic climate in the educational institutions. Why would we tell our leaders and activists to get involved in terrorism and immoral activities," the BCL Acting President Al Nahian Khan Joy told The Business Standard.

"We never asked them [Buet BCL members] to beat the students or suppress them," Joy claimed.

President of Buet BCL Khondoker Jamius Sani said, they never gave any instruction to their leaders and activists to torture the general students.

"We believe in diverse political opinions. The accused have been giving misinformation to the police."