Rifat murder case: HC clears way for Barguna court to hold trial

The High Court today cleared the way for a Barguna court to continue the trial proceedings against Aysha Siddika Minni and nine other accused in the Rifat Sharif murder case.

The HC rejected a petition filed by Minni, wife of the victim, seeking transfer of the case to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court from Barguna court.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman passed the rejection order, considering that her petition was not moved properly.

Meanwhile, defence lawyers decided to take back the petition as the HC bench was reluctant to transfer the case from the Barguna court, Advocate Makkia Fatima Islam, a lawyer for Minni, told The Daily Star.

She said they are yet to take a decision on whether they will move the petition before another HC bench.

The lawyer also said Minni submitted the petition on February 9 to transfer the case to a Dhaka court, citing that the "Barguna court is not holding the trial in a fair manner."

Rifat Sharif (25), an internet service provider, was hacked to death in broad daylight in front of his wife Minni's college in Barguna town on June 26 last year.

On September 1, police pressed charges against her and 23 others for their alleged involvement in the murder.

On January 1 this year, Judge Md Asaduzzaman of Barguna District and Sessions Judge's Court framed charges against the 10 adult accused. Later, a juvenile court in Barguna indicted 14 juveniles in the murder case.