Staff Reporter :
Ayesha Siddiqa Minni, wife of Barguna’s Rifat Sharif, has been released from jail 48 days after being arrested on allegations of involvement in her husband’s killing.
She was released at 4:49pm on Tuesday after the release order signed by Barguna Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Zahid Hassan reached the Barguna district prison authorities, her counsel Mahbubul Bari Aslam confirmed.
Earlier the Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for Minni to walk out of jail, reports our district correspondent.
The apex court upheld a High Court verdict that granted bail to Minni in her husband Rifat Sharif murder case.
On August 29, the HC granted bail to Minni and at the same time forbade her from speaking to the media.
On August 8, her counsel ZI Khan Panna withdrew her plea when the bench of justices Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain and Md Mostafizur Rahman denied her bail and wanted to issue a rule instead. Latter on August 18, another bail plea was filed with a new bench and on August 20, the HC issued a rule asking why Minni should not be granted bail.
The court also show-caused the Barguna Superintendent of Police to explain why he briefed the media on Minni’s involvement before recording her confessional statement and ordered the investigating officer to inform the court on the case progress by August 28.
Meanwhile, charge sheet was submitted against 24 persons, including No-7 accused Ayesha Siddika Minni, in the sensational murder case of Barguna youth Rifat Sharif.
A press release, sent by the Superintendent of Police (BG) of special branch of Barguna, was issued on September 1 in this regard.
After the investigation, the charge sheet was submitted to the court accusing 20 persons. The main accused of the case, Nayan Bond, was killed in a gunfight.
On June 26, Minni’s husband Rifat was attacked in broad daylight by a group of assailants wielding sharp weapons, in front of Barguna Government College, while she tried to save him. He died later of excessive bleeding caused by the wounds he sustained during the attack.
The video of the attack went viral on the Internet, sparking outrage across the country and Rifat’s father Dulal Sharif filed a case at Barguna police station against 12 people.
Police have so far arrested 15 people, including Minni, all of them have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the murder.
Minni, the key witness, was arrested on July 16 after being taken in for questioning and a court placed her on a five-day remand.
On July 18, Barguna Superintendent of Police (SP) Maruf Hossain told the media that she had confessed to her involvement in Rifat’s murder. A Barguna court recorded her confessional statement and sent her to jail the next day.
However, the family claimed Minni gave the statement under duress, creating further controversy.
