Ayesha Siddiqua Minni, wife of slain Rifat Sharif, has filed a petition with a Barguna court seeking withdrawal of her confessional statement over her husband's murder case.
Barguna Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Sirajul Islam Gazi took Minni's plea in cognizance and fixed August 14 for the next hearing on Wednesday.
Minni’s lawyer Mahbubul Bari said Minni was produced before the court around 10:30am along with the other accused of the case.
He said: "The court has taken Minni's plea in cognizance. The judge has called for the main case files to be brought before him.
"Then, after talking with Minni's family, the court will give a ruling regarding the withdrawal plea."
Lawyer Mostafa Quader, representing Arian Srabon and Kamrul Hasan Saimun, both accused in the Rifat murder case, said: "The court has accepted Saimun and Hasana's plea to withdraw their bail petition.
Also Read - Rifat murder: Minni denied bail again
"The court then accepted Saimun's plea seeking permission to sit for his honours exams."
Minni, arrested on July 16, was denied bail several times.
Earlier on Tuesday, a Barguna court rejected another bail petition of Ayesha Siddiqua Minni in the case filed over the murder of her husband Rifat Sharif.
Judge Md Asaduzzaman of Barguna District and Sessions Judge’s Court passed the order on the same day after hearing arguments from both sides.
On July 23, advocate Mahbubul Bari Aslam, who led a 30-member defence team on Tuesday, had filed the bail petition.
Another 30-member team of lawyers, led by Public Prosecutor Bhuban Chandra Hawlader, also represented the plaintiff on Tuesday.
After the hearing, Mahbubul said they would move the High Court seeking Minni’s bail.
Earlier, another court had rejected her plea for medical treatment.
Also Read - HC rejects plea for shifting Rifat murder case to CID or PBI
On July 16, police had arrested Rifat’s wife Minni. The following day, a court placed her on a five-day remand.
On July 18, Barguna Superintendent of Police (SP) Maruf Hossain told reporters that Minni had confessed to her involvement in Rifat’s murder.
The next day, a Barguna court recorded her confessional statement and sent her to jail.
However, soon after, Minni's father Mozammel Hossain claimed her daughter gave the statement under duress, creating further controversy.
On June 26, 23-year-old Rifat was attacked in broad daylight, by a group of assailants wielding sharp weapons, in front of Barguna Government College, while Minni desperately tried to save him. He later died of excessive bleeding, caused from the wounds he sustained during the attack.
The video of the attack later went viral on the internet, sparking outrage across the country.
Rifat’s father Dulal Sharif filed a case at Barguna police station against 12 people. Police have so far arrested 15 people, including Minni, all of which have confessed to their involvement in the murder.
However, prime accused Nayan Bond was killed in a gunfight with police on July 2. Four out of the 12 accused are also yet to be arrested.