Minni denied bail

A Barguna court on Sunday rejected the bail plea of Aysha Siddika Minni, wife of Rifat Sharif, who was hacked to death in broad daylight in front of Barguna Government College on 26 June.

The court of senior judicial magistrate Md Sirajul Isalm Gazi denied the bail after holding a hearing on the matter.

Mahbubul Bari Aslam moved for Aysha Siddika in the court. He was assisted by the lawyers of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST).

Lawyers asked the court why the bail plea was rejected.

The court said, Aysha Siddika has confessed to her involvement with the murder under the section 164. Two more accused in this case -- Rabbi Akhand and Rifat Farazi -- also said that Aysha Siddika along with prime accused Nayan Bond planned the murder.

Six days after of the murder, Nayan Bond was killed in what police called a gunfight with them on 2 July. On the same night, police arrested Rifat Farazi.

Earlier on 17 July, Minni was arrested after nearly 13 hours of interrogation.

In a statement, superintendent of police in Barugna, Maruf Hossain, said the investigation officer’s interrogation of Aysha Siddika Minni and analysis of the information she provided him appeared to show her involvement with the murder.

Aysha Siddika gave a confessional statement before the court acknowledging her involvement with the murder.

But her father said that Aysha Siddika confessed to the court as instructed by the police.

The police officials also threatened her with a fresh 10-day remand if she failed to oblige, alleged Aysha’s father Mozammel Hossain, quoting her.

Mozammel revealed this to newsmen on Saturday after meeting his daughter at the gate of Barguna district jail.