Rifat murder case verdict this noon

Barguna District and Sessions Judge Court will deliver its verdict in a case filed over the murder of Rifat Sharif this noon (September 30).

Barguna District and Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman will announce the verdict.

Ayesha Siddika Minni, an accused in the Rifat murder case, appeared in court with her father Mozammel Hossain Kishore around 8.45am. Eight adults accused in the case will be produced in court under tight security.

According to court sources, after the testimony of 76 witnesses against 10 accused in the Rifat murder case, the court accepted defense witness onbehalf of one accused. The concerned lawyers then presented arguments in the court against all the accused. The court fixed the date of the verdict after presenting arguments on behalf of Ayesha Siddique Minni, wife of the deceased Rifat.

Earlier on August 10, judicial proceedings of the sensational murder case resumed after five months. It had been halted over the coronavirus pandemic.

Rifat, 22, was mercilessly hacked on June 26 in 2019 by a group of individuals in broad daylight in Barguna town, even as his wife Ayesha Siddiqua Minni tried to save him.

He died from his injuries at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital later in the evening.

The next day, Rifat’s father filed a case of murder at Sadar police station.

Police submitted two separate charge sheets against Minni and others on September 1.

On January 8, 2020, Judge Md Hafizur Rahman framed charges against 14 accused juveniles, after concluding the hearing of defense and prosecution lawyers.

Slain Rifat’s wife Ayesha Siddika Minni is now on bail.