Rifat murder: Wife Minni among 6 to walk the gallows
Four other accused were acquitted
Highlights
- 6 accused including Minni sentenced to death, 4 acquitted
- Rifat Sharif was hacked to death on June 26 last year
- His wife Minni was present on the spot
- On September 1 the same year,
- Charge sheets summited on Sept 1 same year
- 14 juveniles and 10 adults were made accused in the case
- Minni on July 18, 2019 confessed about her involvement in the killing
- Prime accused Nayan Bond killed in 'gunfight' with police
A Barguna court has sentenced six accused including Ayesha Siddika Minni to death in the sensational Rifat Sharif murder case.
District and Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman passed the verdict on Wednesday afternoon. The court also acquitted four accused.
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The death row convicts are- Ayesha Siddika Minni, Rakibul Hasan alias Rifat Faraji, Al Kaiyum alias Rabbi Akan, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, Rezwan Ali Khan Hridoy alias Tiktok Hridoy and Md Hasan.
The acquitted accused are- Md Musa, Rafiul Islam Rabbi, Md Sagar and Kamrul Hasan Saymun.
Reaction of Rifat's father
"We passed many nights crying and without any sleep after Rifat was murdered brutally. But today we are happy as justice have been served. I thank law enforcement agencies," said Dulal Sharif, father of slain Rifat, in his instant reaction to the verdict.
Thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and authorities concerned, he added, "We will not feel comfortable until the verdict is executed."
Verdict unfortunate: Minni's lawyer
Mahbubul Bari Aslam, lawyer of Minni, said, "The verdict is very unexpected and unfortunate. State Prosecution could not place any evidence accusing Minni in the murder. Minni even tried to save Rifat and was injured as well in the attack. She also took Rifat to the hospital."
"We are not satisfied with the verdict. We will appeal to the High Court. We hope she will be acquitted from there," the lawyer added.
Justice has been served: State Prosecutor
The prosecution has expressed their satisfaction, calling the phenomenal verdict an example that will strengthen people's faith in the judiciary system.
"The core rule of law is to punish the perpetrator and ensure justice for the victim," said the State Prosecutor Md Mostafizur Rahman Babul, adding that, "With this verdict justice has been served."
"The verdict again made it clear that the offender would not be spared," he added hoping that the punishment will ensue following the disposal of the case in the High Court.
Rifat Sharif was hacked to death in front of Barguna Government College in broad daylight on June 26 last year. His wife Minni was present on the spot when the incident took place.
On September 1 the same year, police submitted two charge sheets to the same court accusing 14 juveniles and 10 adults in the case. Of the adults accused, only Minni has been on bail granted by the High Court.
Minni on July 18, 2019 confessed about her involvement in the killing of her husband Rifat Sharif. The incident took place after Rifat took away a cellphone of one of his friends.
What happened on that day?
In her confession, Minni told police that the incident started after Rifat took away a cellphone of one of his friends.
The victim sought prime accused Nayon Bond's help to get back his mobile phone and Nayon Bond approached Minni to this end. Minni was reportedly married to Nayon Bond before Rifat.
Minni managed to return the cellphone. However, this led to an altercation between the couple and Rifat beat Minni at one stage.
As Nayon Bond and Rifat Farazi came to know about the incident, they planned to teach Rifat a lesson. Minni was aware of the plan.
Nayon Bond, Rifat Faraji and some others attacked Rifat in front of Barguna Government College in front of his wife on June 26 last year. They hacked him with sharp weapons brutally. Minni tried to save Rifat, but she could not.
Minni rushed injured Rifat to hospital. Later he was shifted to Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital (BSMCH) where doctors declared him dead.
The video of the attack went viral and it became talk of the country.
