Minni, five others sentenced to death

BARGUNA, Sept 30 (Agencies): A Barguna court has sentenced Ayesha Siddika Minni and five others to death in the daylight murder of her husband Rifat Shorif in 2019.
District and Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman delivered the verdict in the closely-watched case amid tight security on Wednesday.
Four other suspects in the case were acquitted by the court.
A large police contingent was deployed in the court premises ahead of the verdict, while traffic in the area was also controlled.
According to the prosecution, Rifat, 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. Surveillance camera footage showed his wife Minni apparently trying to save him.
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.
A Barguna court on January 1 indicted Minni and nine others for Rifat's murder.
District and Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman framed charges.
The other accused are - Rakibul Hasan Rifat Farazi, 23, Al Kaiyum alias Akon, 21, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, 19, Rezwan Ali Khan Hridoy, 22, Md Hasan, 19, Md Musa, 22, Rafiul Islam Rabbi, 20, Md Sagor, 19, Kamrul Islam Saimun, 21.
The High Court on August 29 last year granted bail to Minni on condition that she would remain in her father's custody and refrain from talking to the media.
Meanwhile, 14 other underage accused are being tried separately at a juvenile court over Rifat's murder.
The 23-year-old Rakibul Hasan alias Rifat Forazi, a relative of Barguna District Council Chairman Delwar Hossain, was the key suspect in the case.
Security footage from the CC camera at the college gate showed Rifat and two others scything the victim with long, sharp weapons.
He now faces the death penalty along with four of his associates.
Minni, who had been the No. 1 witness in the case started by Rifat's father Dulal, was identified as the seventh accused in the charge-sheet.
The court subsequently heard the testimonies of 76 witnesses over the course of the trial.
In his ruling, the judge noted that the prosecution was "able to prove" Minny's involvement in the "conspiracy" to kill Rifat.
However, the charges against four other suspects in the case -- Md Musa, 22, Rafiul Islam Rabbi, 20, Md Sagar, 19, and Kamrul Hasan Saimun, 21, were dropped due to a lack of evidence to tie them to the murder.
All the accused were behind bars, except Minni, who was released on bail, while Musa is on the run. They were all present in court for the verdict.
Minni's father Mozammel Hoque Kishore drove her to the district court on Wednesday morning. They arrived in court around 9 am. Mozammel was hopeful that his daughter would be exonerated by the court.
But after the verdict was announced, Minni was taken to prison along with the other convicts.
In an instant reaction to the ruling, Mozammel told reporters: "We didn't get justice. My daughter is the victim of a conspiracy. We will appeal against the decision."
Minni's legal counsel Mahbubul Bari Aslam also confirmed that an appeal would be lodged. "We contended that the prosecution failed to prove the charges (against Minni). We are disappointed with the verdict."
Meanwhile, Rifat's father Dulal Shorif expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the trial. "Minni and five others have been handed the highest punishment. We are happy with the ruling."
Reacting to the verdict, Public Prosecutor Bhuban Chandra Hawlader said, "The court handed down the capital punishment because we were able to prove the allegations against them."