Rifat murder: 11 juvenile accused jailed, 3 acquitted  

Dhaka (Oct 27, 2020): A Barguna court today awarded 11 juvenile accused jails for different terms in connection of the much-talked-about Rifat Sharif murder case.

The court in its verdict awarded 10 years of jail to six accused, five years to four and three years jail to an accused while it acquitted three other juvenile accused in the case.  

Judge Hafizur Rahman of Barguna Children’s Court pronounced the verdict this afternoon in presence of all 14 accused in the court.

The court framed charges against the 14 juveniles accused on January 8 this year and five days later, the court started to record witness testimonies.

The accused juveniles who are understood to have been under 18 at the time of the crime are: Rashidul Hasan Rishan alias Rishan Forazi, Rakibul Hasan Rifat Hawlader, Abu Abdullah alias Raihan, Oliullah alias Oli, Joy Chandra Sarker alias Chandan, Md Naim, Tanvir Hossain, Nazmul Hasan, Rakibul Hasan Niamat, Saiyed Maruf Billah alias Mohibullah, Maruf Mallick, Prince Mollah, Ratul Shikder Joy and Arian Hossain Srabon.

Rifat, 22, was attacked with sharp weapons near the main gate of Barguna Government College on last June 26 while his wife Minni appeared to be trying to protect him from the attackers.

Twenty-four people were accused in the murder case filed by Rifat’s father.

The young man’s wife, Minni, initially named as a witness, was later arrested on July 16, and made an accused in the case.

The main accused, Sabbir Ahmed alias Nayon Bond, was killed in a reported gunfight with law enforcers on July 2.

Meanwhile, District and Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman sentenced Minni and five others to death for killing him on September 1.

The other convicts are — Rakibul Hasan Rifat Farazi, Al Kaiyum alias Akon, Hasan, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat and Hridoy.