Court accepts charge sheet in Rifat murder case

A Barguna court today accepted charge sheet against 24 people, including Ayesha Siddika Minni, in connection with the much-talked-about Rifat murder case. 

Mohammad Sirajul Islam Gazi, a justice at the Barguna Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, accepted the charge sheet after a hearing in presence of Ayesha Siddika Minni and eight others, among the accused. 

The court issued an arrest warrant against the nine fugitives, accused in the case, and asked to present them on October 3, said Advocate Majibul Huq Kislu, the lawyer for plaintiff. 

The nine fugitives are: Md Musa, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, Md Hasan, Md Abdullah, Md Saiyed Maruf Billah, Maruf Mallik, Prince Molla, Rakibul Hasan, and Mohammad Nayeem.

Nayan Bond, the prime-accused in the case, was taken off the charge, as he was killed in a reported gunfight on July 2. 

Earlier on September 1, Md Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge at the Barguna Sadar Police Station and investigation officer in the case, pressed the charge-sheet, accusing 24 people including Ayesha Siddika Minni. Of them, 15 were arrested.

The court on Wednesday also rejected the bail, sought by Md Sagor, Al Kaium, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, Rejoan Ali Khan, Md Hasan, and Rafiul Islam Rabbi. 

Advocate Mahbubul Bari Aslam, lawyer of the defendant, said that six juveniles among the accused in the case will be tried in the Children's Court.

Minni's husband Rifat was hacked to death in front of her in broad daylight in Barguna on June 26. The incident was recorded on surveillance camera.

On August 29, High Court granted bail to Ayesha Siddika Minni on condition that she would not say anything to the media on the case.