Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, announced the decision on his Facebook page today (3 March). He described Abrar as a "symbol of courage against injustice" and a "reflection of free thought," emphasizing that the award recognizes Abrar's ultimate sacrifice.
On 6 October 2019, Abrar Fahad was brutally beaten to death by fellow students at BUET, who suspected him of being associated with Shibir. His tragic death sparked nationwide protests and has since become a symbol of resistance against violence in educational institutions.
In 2021, a court sentenced 20 students to death for their role in Abrar’s murder.
In an unrelated development, Muntasir Al Jamie, one of the convicts in the case, escaped from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail on 6 August 2024. The Department of Prisons confirmed his escape on 25 February. Abrar’s younger brother, Abrar Faiyaj, shared the news on Facebook, revealing that the family was informed of Jamie’s escape after his lawyer failed to appear in court on 24 February.