Ducsu VP declares Abrar Fahad a 'symbol of national unity' during grave visit

The newly-elected Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem declared martyred student Abrar Fahad a "symbol of Bangladesh's national unity" last night (2 October), stating that Abrar's sacrifice laid the path for the July Uprising.

Shadik Kayem visited the grave at Raidanga village in Kumarkhali Upazila, Kushtia, at around 11:30pm, where he broke down in tears while offering prayers for Abrar's departed soul. Later, him and his entourage visited the 'Abrar Fahad Library' in Kushtia before departing for Dhaka just after midnight.

The Ducsu VP connected Abrar's brutal murder in 2019 to the core of the nation's struggle against authoritarianism.

"Martyr Abrar Fahad is a symbol of Bangladesh's national unity. He is our lighthouse of inspiration," Shadik Kayem told journalists after the visit.

"Abrar was ruthlessly murdered by the banned Chhatra League, an organisation of killer Hasina and her associates, for speaking out against dominance and aggression, and against inequality and aggression."

The student leader asserted that Abrar's martyrdom was central to the spirit of the July Uprising.

"The path shown by Martyr Abrar is the same path on which the July Uprising was organised. Our martyrs and Ghazis fought with the same spirit and aspiration that Abrar held in his heart," he stated.

Shadik Kayem issued a warning to the interim administration, urging them to honour the sacrifices made.

"The interim government is failing to embody the aspirations of the July Uprising as it should. To pay the price of the martyrs' blood, those aspirations must be fully implemented. Otherwise, they too will face a terrible fate like that of killer Hasina or Fascism," he warned.

Abrar's father, Barkat Ullah, along with leaders and activists from Islami Chhatra Shibir and local residents, were present at the grave site. After the prayers, Shadik Kayem talked with Abrar Fahad's father.