Aysha Siddika Minni, wife of slain Rifat Sharif, today rejected her father-in-law’s allegation that she had a link with the gruesome murder of her husband.

“Propaganda is being spread over the murder by a certain group to hide the real killers,” Minni said while addressing a press conference at her father’s house at Nowakata village in Barguna Sarad upazila this afternoon.

Yesterday, at a press conference, Rifat’s father Abdul Halim Dulal Sharif demanded immediate arrest of his daughter-in-law Minni alleging that she had a hand in the murder.

Rejecting the allegation, Minni today said, “The people, who have created the 007 group are politically and financially influential and they are trying to hide the real killers by spreading such propaganda.”     

“Whatever my father-in-law has said is false and baseless. My father-in-law is suffering from dementia,” Minni said in her written statement at the press conference.

About marital status with Nayan Bond, one of the killers, Minni said she did not get married to him (Nayan), but she was forced to put a signature on a white paper.

Rifat’s father yesterday claimed that before Minni tied the knot with his son, she had married Sabbir Hossain Nayan alias Nayan Bond, one of the killers, and her family had kept the matter a secret.

Besides, a human chain was formed in front of Barguna press club this morning demanding immediate arrest of Minni showing her as an accused of the murder.

A human chain was formed in front of Barguna press club demanding immediate arrest of Minni. Photo: Star

A total 14 including 7 FIR named accused in the murder case already arrested, Humayun Kabir, IO (Investigation Officer) of Rifat murder case said.

Of accused seven Rabbi, Oli, Tanvir, Chandon, Hasan, Sagor and Najmul-- have already given confessional statements about their involvement in Rifat’s murder, the IO confirmed.

The main accused Nayon Bond killed in a gunfight with police early on July 2, he said.

On June 26, Nayan and Farazi, along with some others, attacked 25-year-old Rifat with sharp weapons in front of Barguna Government College when Rifat and his wife Ayesha were leaving the college premises.

He was first taken to Barguna General Hospital and later to Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital where he died around 3:30pm.

Rifat’s father Abdul Halim Dulal Sharif filed a case with Barguna Police Station on the same day accusing 12.