Paper book preparation is underway for Ayesha Siddika Minni’s appeal against the death sentence handed down by a Barguna court in the 2019 Rifat Sharif murder case.
The High Court accepted Minni’s appeal challenging the 2020 death sentence for hearing, after which work on preparing the paper book began.
However, proceedings have been moving slowly as one of her lawyers, ZI Khan Panna, has been ill.
Minni’s family and lawyers remain hopeful that she will be acquitted by the High Court.
Minni’s lawyer Advocate Mahbubul Bari Aslam (former) told Dhaka Tribune on Friday morning that work on arranging the paper book has been underway since the High Court accepted the appeal for hearing.
“The work is progressing slowly because Minni’s lawyer ZI Khan Panna is ill,” he said.
Aslam said Minni was not directly involved in the murder.
“She tried to save the victim, her husband Rifat, and took him to the hospital. Therefore, we are hopeful that Minni will be acquitted by the High Court,” he said.
Minni now in Barisal jail
Minni is currently serving her sentence at Barisal District Jail.
She was transferred from Kashimpur Jail to Barisal about three months ago following an application citing various health problems.
Senior Jail Superintendent of Barisal Central Jail Subrata Kumar Bala told Dhaka Tribune on Friday morning that Minni is currently at Barisal Jail.
“A clear sign of remorse can be seen in her movements and behaviour. She was young when she made the mistake. Perhaps she has now learned to understand and is able to realize her mistake,” he said.
He said jail is a place for self-correction.
“There is no shortage of our efforts to ensure that all accused correct themselves here, return to normal life after leaving jail and move forward. Minni is also trying to change herself. Perhaps she has realized her mistake,” he said.
Mother says Minni was unwell in Kashimpur
Minni’s mother, Jinat Jahan Moni, told Dhaka Tribune on Friday morning that her daughter had been suffering from sinusitis, neck pain, low blood pressure and toothache while in Kashimpur.
“She could not eat properly or sleep. She was always sick. She could not even drink the water at the jail. Later, we applied to have her transferred to Barisal Jail. We met her less than a week ago, and she is better now,” she said.
Jinat said her daughter was young and a victim of her own mistakes and circumstances.
“My daughter was young. She was a victim of her own mistake and circumstances. She was not directly involved in the murder. She also tried to save her husband. We have spent our days shedding tears,” she said.
She expressed hope that the High Court would acquit Minni.
Rifat attacked in broad daylight
On June 26, 2019, several young men attacked Rifat Sharif with sharp weapons in broad daylight in the College Road area of Barguna.
His wife Minni was with him at the time. Video footage showed her alone attempting to save her husband from the attackers.
The footage also showed several people standing by and watching the attack. After the video spread online, it sparked widespread outrage across the country.
Following the incident, prime accused Sabbir Ahmed Nayan, popularly known as “Nayan Bond,” was killed in an alleged “gunfight” with police.
The investigation took a dramatic turn 21 days after the murder when police arrested Rifat’s wife, Ayesha Siddika Minni.
Before her arrest, Rifat’s father had accused Minni of being involved in his son’s murder.
Six sentenced to death
On September 30, 2020, a court sentenced six people, including Rifat’s wife Ayesha Siddika Minni, to death in the widely discussed Rifat Sharif murder case in Barguna.
Four others were acquitted in the same case.