Rifat murder: Court orders confiscation of 8 fugitives' wealth

A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered confiscation of the property of eight fugitive accused in the Rifat Sharif murder case.

Senior judicial magistrate Mohammad Sirajul Islam Gazi also denied bail to two other accused -- Rakibul Hasan Rifat Farazi and Rezwan Ali Khan alias Tiktok Hridoy -- and sent them to jail.

Besides, the court sent the bail petitions of three underage accused to the juvenile court.

The fugitives are Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, Md Musa, underage Rakibul Hasan Rifat Hawlader, Abu Abdullah Raihan, Md Naim, Rakibul Hasan Niamat, Syed Maruf Billah alias Mohibullah and Prince Molla.

The court also set 16 October for the next hearing, said plaintiff’s lawyer Mujibul Haque Kislu.

On 26 June, Rifat Sharif, 22, was attacked with sharp weapons near the main gate of Barguna Government College. His wife Ayesha Siddika appeared to be trying to protect him during the attack.

Main accused Sabbir Ahmed alias Nayon Bond was killed in an alleged gunfight with law enforcers on 2 July.

Police arrested Ayesha on 16 July over the murder of her husband and was denied bail several times. She reportedly confessed to her involvement in the murder before the court on 19 July, two days after her arrest.

The High Court on 29 August granted bail to Ayesha on conditions that she would remain in her father’s custody and that she could not talk to media.