Barguna killing: Rifat Farazi gives statement before court

Rifat Farazi, one of the key accused in Rifat Sharif murder case, gave statement before a magistrate in Barguna today.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Sirajul Islam Gazi recorded his statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) upon completion of his 19-day remand in three phases, said Humayun Kabir, investigation officer (IO) of the case.

After recording the statement, the court sent Rifat Farazi to jail, our Patuakhali correspondent reports quoting Humayun Kabir, also inspector (inquiry) of Barguna Sadar Police Station.

Including Rifat Farazi, a total of 14 accused gave statements to the court in the murder case, said the police official.

Yesterday, the same court recorded the statement of Aysha Siddika Minni, wife of Rifat Sharif who was hacked to death in broad daylight, in connection with the case filed over the murder.

Police arrested Farazi on July 2 in a case filed over the recovery of arms used in the murder, hours after prime accused Sabbir Hossain Nayan alias Nayan Bond was shot dead in what police said was a gunfight.

Rifat was shown arrested in both the murder and the arms recovery cases, according to the investigation officer.

On June 26, Rifat Sharif, a 25-year-old internet service provider, was hacked by a group of young men in broad daylight.

In a footage of the incident that went viral on social media, the victim’s wife Aysha was seen screaming and trying to save her husband from the assailants in vain.

The victim’s father filed a case with Barguna Sadar Police Station accusing 12 people on the same day.

The prime accused in the case, Sabbir Hossain Nayan alias Nayan Bond, was killed in a “gunfight” with police on July 2.

ASK to provide legal aid to Minni

Rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has said it would provide legal support to Aysha Siddika Minni, wife of slain Rifat Sharif.

A four-member team from ASK reached Barguna this afternoon to provide legal aid to Minni, who has been arrested over alleged involvement in Rifat Sharif murder.

Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir, senior coordinator of the ASK who lead the four-member team, said the others members are Hasibur Rahman, Abdur Rashid and Mizanur Rahman.

“We learnt that Minni was not getting lawyer to provide her legal support in the case and thus, we came here,” Faijul Kabir told our Patuakhali correspondent.

Earlier, police arrested Minni on Tuesday after a daylong interrogation. A court placed her on a five-day remand on the following day.

No lawyer represented Minni during the remand hearing at the court.

Minni is the key witness of the murder of her husband that took place in front of Barguna Government College on June 26.