The High Court has also issued a rule asking the state why Ayesha Siddiqua Minni Minni should not be granted bail in the case over her husband Rifat Sharif’s murder.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the ruling yesterday, giving the respondents a week to respond.
The court also show-caused Barguna’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Maruf Hossain to explain why he briefed the media on Minni’s alleged involvement in Rifat’s murder case before recording her confessional statement.
It ordered the SP to submit his explanation through the Attorney General’s Office by August 28.
The court also summoned Barguna Sadar police station’s Inspector and case investigation officer Humayun Kabir to inform the court on the progress of the investigation by August 28.
Advocate ZI Khan Panna and Supreme Court Bar Association President AM Aminuddin stood for Minni during the hearing, while Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Md Sarwar Hossain represented the state.
Following a court order issued Monday, Panna yesterday submitted newspaper reports before the bench, which showed that SP Maruf had briefed the media about Minni’s alleged involvement before her confessional statement was recorded.
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Asked whether the SP could do that, DAG Sarwar told the court: “My lord, this has become a culture now.”
The court also observed that such remarks from a SP would automatically influence other people including the case investigation officer.
Minni, 19, was arrested on July 16 for her alleged involvement in the gruesome June 26 murder of Rifat in Barguna.
On July 18, Barguna SP Maruf told reporters that Minni confessed to her involvement in her husband’s murder after a daylong interrogation.
The next day, a Barguna court sent her to jail after recording her confessional statement. However, Minni and her father claimed she was coerced to confess.
She also went on to move the court to have that confessional statement withdrawn.
Rifat’s father Dulal Sharif had filed the murder case at Barguna police station against 12 people later on the day of the killing.
Police say they have so far arrested Minni and 14 others and all of them have confessed to their involvement in the murder.
However, prime accused Sabbir Hossain Nayan alias Nayan Bond was killed in a gunfight with police on July 2.
After her arrest, Minni had moved local courts several times for bail. But all the petitions were rejected.
Earlier this month, she filed a bail plea with the High Court vacation bench, which rejected it as well.
Later on Sunday, she moved the bench of Justice Enayetur and Justice Mostafizur for bail.
