The gruesome killing of a Barguna youth in front of his wife, in broad daylight, has caused a nationwide public outrage, prompting the authorities to go for a manhunt, and put in place a border alert, making sure that the perpetrators could not flee the country.
As stirred people across the country took to the social media platforms to vent anger, calling for taking the killers into task, the High Court ordered immediate action so that none could escape arrest, and the prime ministerial instruction also came for immediate arrest of the killers.
Till last night, the law enforcers could arrest three of the gang members, though case was lodged against 12 persons for hacking Rifat Sharif, following his protest against cyber-harassing of his wife Ayesha Akhter Minni by one of the key perpetrators.
The entire country became stunned seeing the video of the gruesome killing of the Brguna youth, and the viral video has drawn sharp reactions among the people.
Many condemned the bystanders, who failed to stop the assailants, despite the desperate screams, and solitary efforts of the victim's wife Ayesha to save him.
A number of people armed with sharp weapons, led by one Nayan, hacked Rifat Sharif, 22, in front of his wife outside the Barguna Government College on Wednesday morning. Rifat was admitted to Barguna General Hospital, and later transferred to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A video of the entire incident, possibly captured on a surveillance camera, showing the attack on the youth in front of the college around 10:30am, where Rifat went to drop-off his wife. The video went viral on social media, and drew widespread attention.
“They killed my husband right in front of me. I tried a lot to save him, but failed. Not a single person came forward to help us when the attack took place,” Ayesha told journalists while describing the horrific incident, with tears in her eyes.
Six deep wounds found on Rifat’s body
The victim died of excessive bleeding from six deep wounds on his body, said Dr Jamil Hossain, an assistant professor of Surgery Department at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
He received injuries on his throat, head and chest, and most of his important veins were severed which prompted his death, Prof Jamil told reporters after conducting an autopsy on Rifat's body.
Dulal Sharif, the father of Rifat, filed a case against 12 people on Thursday. Police arrested a suspect, Chandan, from the town the next morning.
Rifat was buried last evening at the family graveyard at Labangola village under sadar upazila after his namaz-e-janaza.
Barguna Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abir Mohammad Hossain said Rifat's father Dulal Sharif filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 12 named and 5/7 unnamed persons.
Barguna Police Super Maruf Hossain said several check posts have been set up at different points in the town to arrest the criminals.
Several teams of Police and Rapid Action Battalion are trying to arrest the criminals, he added.
None of Rifat’s killers to be spared
Terming the killing unfortunate, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said none of those involved in the murder will be spared. "All the killers will be brought to book. Police have already arrested a man in connection with the murder," he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered law enforcers to immediately arrest those involved in the killing, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.
“The prime minister instructed police to arrest the assailants, and bring them to trial immediately," he told reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday.
A picture of social degradation: HC
Expressing grave shock over the brutal killing, the High Court has observed that the way Rifat was killed, and the role of bystanders are the pictures of social degradation.
“It is very shocking that nobody came forward to protect Rifat when he was being attacked, although many people videotaped the incident. This is the picture of social degradation,” said the court on Thursday.
"All of the country's people are shocked by the incident. Where's the society heading to? The man was murdered in broad daylight, on the road, but no one other than one came to his rescue...many people witnessed the incident, and recorded a video of it, but no one came forward. This is the failure of people," said the apex court.
The High Court bench, comprising Justices FRM Nazmul Ahsan and KM Kamrul Kader, asked the state to increase security along the border to prevent the suspects of the murder from fleeing the country.
It also asked to provide Rifat’s widow – who tried to fight off the murderers in vain – with more security.
Mentioning that it was not issuing any order or rule for now, the HC said it will be observing whether there is any negligence in this regard.
