Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad was a unique and bright symbol of the country's nationalist forces.

He said Abrar Fahad's patriotism and supreme sacrifice provided the ultimate inspiration for the nation to stand up against aggression and fascism, uniting the patriotic people of the country.

Rizvi made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest at a discussion organised by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Dhaka University (DU), marking the seventh anniversary of Abrar Fahad’s killings.

Abrar Fahad, 21, was beaten to death by leaders and activists of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours of October 7, 2019, following a Facebook post in which he criticised Bangladesh-India water-sharing arrangements.

His body was found on the dormitory staircase the following morning.

The killing triggered widespread protests and led BUET to ban student politics on campus.

Rizvi said nationalist forces would continue to fight “until the last drop of blood” against any conspiracy against the country and any aggressive force.

Referring to the presence of Abrar’s father, Barkat Ullah, at the programme, Rizvi said he felt proud and emotional to sit beside the father of a martyred hero.

Criticising the foreign policy of the previous government, Rizvi alleged that the country’s sovereignty had been weakened to protect the interests of a neighbouring country during the “fascist rule”.

He said the then prime minister had publicly said that India would remember what had been given to it.

“Abrar Fahad’s courageous and strong protest against this surrender was his real crime. By killing him, an attempt was made to frighten the entire nation,” Rizvi said.

Recalling a quote by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, Rizvi said, “Feeling the pain of others is what makes us human.”

“Abrar’s brutal killing had made the entire nation mourn and awakened patriotic people. That awakening eventually led to the 2024 student-led mass uprising and the fall of the fascist government on August 5,” he said.

The programme was chaired by JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and moderated by its General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.

Among others, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah, Dhaka University Treasurer Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, BNP Central Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam, JCD Central Joint General Secretary Shyamol Malum, DU JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Shahos and General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon also spoke at the event.