News Desk :
A Barguna court on Wednesday sentenced six people including Ayesha Siddika Minni to death in sensational Rifat Sharif murder case.
District and Sessions Judge of Barguna Md Asaduzzaman pronounced the verdict at 1:50pm in presence of nine accused (except Md Musa), reports our correspondent quoting Court’s Public Prosecutor Bhuban Chandra Haldar.
The five condemned convicts are: Rakibul Hasan Rifat Farazi, 23, Al Kaiyum, 21, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, 19, Rezwan Ali Khan Hridoy alias Tiktok Hridoy, 22 and Md Hasan, 19.
They were also fined Tk 50,000 each.
The court acquitted four accused-Rafiul Islam Rabbi, Mohammad Sagor, Kamrul Islam Saimum and Md Musa-as they were found innocent in the murder case.
Terming Minni as the “mastermind” behind the killing, the court in its verdict said Minni secretly married Sabbir Hossain Nayan alias Nayan Bond-who was later killed in a gunfight with police-before tying the knot with Rifat Sharif, said Halder.
“Minni along with Nayan Bond chalked out a plan to kill Rifat Sharif,” the public prosecutor said quoting the court observation, adding that they executed the plan on June 26 last year in front of Barguna Government College in broad daylight.
“We are happy with the verdict. Criminals cannot be spared if they kill anyone and it has been proven through the verdict,” added Halder. Reacting to the court’s verdict, Mozammel Haque Kishore, father of Ayesha Siddika Minni said they have been deprived of justice.
“Minni did not commit any crime. She tried to save her husband from the attackers, putting her life at risk. I reject this verdict,” he said adding that the court has been influenced.
On the other hand, Halim Dulal Sharif, father of slain Rifat Sharif, said, “I am satisfied with the judgement. The perpetrators have been properly tried. I demand quick execution of the judgement.”
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Mahbubul Bari Aslam said, “We will file appeal petition with the higher court against the judgment of the murder case. We hope we can prove that Minni is innocent.”
The verdict has been biased, he added.
Rifat Sharif, 22, was hacked to death by criminals in front of his wife Minni in broad daylight in Barguna district town on June 26, 2019. The incident was caught on surveillance camera.
On July 16, Minni was taken to district police lines for interrogation. Later, she was shown arrested in the case at night.
On September 1, the same year, police submitted investigation report against 24 people. Of them, 10 are adult while 14 are juvenile.
The Barguna District and Sessions Judge Court framed charges against Minni, who was on bail, and nine other adult accused in the murder case on January 1 this year.
The nine accused are: Rakibul Hasan Rifat Farazi, 23, Al Kaiyum, 21, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, 19, Rezwan Ali Khan Hridoy alias Tiktok Hridoy, 22, Md Hasan, 19, Md Musa, 22, Rafiul Islam Rabbi, 20, Md Sagar, 19, and Kamrul Islam Saimun, 21.
Of them, Musa is absconding.
According to court sources, 76 witnesses testified against the 10 accused. The prosecution and defence then placed their arguments in the court for and against the accused.
Meanwhile, the trial of 14 other accused is going on in the Barguna Children’s Court as they are juveniles.
