Rifat murder: Six including Minni get death penalty

A Barguna court has sentenced six persons including Ayesha Siddika Minni to death in a case filed over the sensational murder of Rifat Sharif.

Barguna District and Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman announced the verdict on Wednesday noon.

Death penalty convicts are Rakibul Hasan Rifat Faraji (23), Al Kaiyum alias Rabbi Akond (21), Mohiminul Islam Sifat (19), Rejwan Ali Khan alias Tiktok Redoy (22), Md Hasan (19) and Ayesha Siddika Minni (19).

Four persons have been acquitted in the case, and they are  Musa (22), Rafiul Islam Rabbi (20), Sagor (19) and Kamrul Islam Saimun (21).

Security was beefed up in Barguna town ahead of the verdict in Rifat Sharif murder case.

Additional police personnel were deployed in and around the court premises while a number of check-posts were set up at different points.

The movement of pedestrians around the court was restricted.

Twenty-four people were accused in the murder case filed by Rifat’s father. Minni, initially named as a witness, was later arrested on July 16 last year and made an accused.

Sabbir Ahmed alias Nayon Bond, the main accused, was killed in an alleged gunfight with police on July 2.

On January 1, this year, the court started the trial through indicting 10 accused, including Rifat’s wife Ayesha Siddika Minni, in the case.

On September 16, District and Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman fixed September 30 for delivering verdict in the murder case.

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

Rifat Sharif, 22, son of Dulal Sharif, was hacked to death in broad daylight in the district town on June 26 last year.

He was attacked near the main gate of Barguna Government College.

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

Surveillance camera footage showed his wife Minni apparently trying to save him.