Police have released four people an hour after they were detained–in the launch ghat area of Barisal–over the murder of Barguna youth Rifat Sharif.
They were arrested when they boarded the Manami launch, which was heading to Dhaka, around 8:30pm on Thursday.
Although their names are yet to be disclosed, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali police station, Nurul Islam, said all of them are students of Barisal Polytechnic Institute, and all of them hail from Betagi upazila in Barguna.
"They were let go of after we discovered their identities after an initial interrogation," the OC said. "They are not involved with Rifat's murder. Rather, they were going to Dhaka to visit some friends."
Also Read- 3 held over Rifat murder
Following orders from higher officials, law enforcement has been vigilant in preventing suspects from escaping, police said.
Earlier, three suspects were arrested over the murder, on Thursday.
In an act of violence that stunned the whole nation, attackers hacked Rifat Sharif, 22, to death—in front of his wife, Ayesha Siddiqua Minni—in broad daylight, in Barguna town, on Wednesday.
Also read- Barguna murder: Who are the killers?
The entire incident was captured by a possible surveillance camera, and the footage quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage and shock among the viewers.
The video shows a number of people—armed with sharp weapons—hacking up Rifat in front of Barguna Government College, and his wife desperately trying to save him. However, bystanders are seen standing, without coming forward to help her.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the act, and asked for swift action from law enforcement. The home minister has said "all the killers will be brought to book."
The High Court called the incident an example of "social degradation," and asked to provide Rifat's widow with more security.
