Horror in room 2011

October 6 evening, 2019.

Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering (EEE) department, was studying mathematics inside his room at Buet's Sher-e-Bangla Hall.

He had come back from his home in Kushtia a couple of hours ago and informed his mother Rokeya Khatun over phone about his safe return to the campus.

Around 8:00pm, some Chhatra League leaders and activists of the dormitory asked him to go to room number 2011 on the first floor. As he stepped out of his room and headed towards Room 2011, his roommate waited for his return.

Reaching Room 2011, Abrar saw some BCL leaders inside. One of them forcefully took Abrar's cell phone and started checking his Facebook account and messenger app. The BCL men began to interrogate him about his alleged links with Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The Chhatra League men were furious because one of Abrar's Facebook posts seemed critical of a recent government deal with India.

While quizzing Abrar, one of the BCL men started slapping him. Another approached and began hitting him with a cricket stump. Then came the third attacker with another stump.

At one point, one of the stumps broke in two. The third BCL man kept on beating Abrar with that broken piece.

During the assault, two BCL men whipped Abrar with a skipping rope and others slapped him at regular intervals.

Abrar begged for water, but they didn't give him a single drop.

A numb Abrar fell to the floor. The BCL men forced him back on his feet and started beating him again.

Abrar then started throwing up and could not move anymore.

Realising his condition, the attackers called Abrar's classmates and along with them took him to the landing of the stairwell between the first and ground floors around 2:30am.

The BCL men then went out to have dinner. After it became clear that Abrar died, the body was moved to the canteen of the dormitory.

Video footage captured by the dormitory's CCTV camera showed three youths carrying Abrar in a corridor and taking him towards the staircase. Another youth was seen next to them while six others were walking behind. It was not clear whether Abrar was alive at that time.

Later, BCL leaders called the hall provost and the resident doctor, who declared Abrar dead.

According to doctors, Abrar died of internal bleeding and excessive pain. There were injury marks all over his body, with bruises on his arms, legs and back.

The fateful night when her son Abrar was in excruciating pain, Rokeya Khatun had called him over phone around 9:00pm. Little did she know that when she bade goodbye to him in the morning, it would be the last time she would see him.