Shawdesh Desk: All accused in the Rifat Sharif murder case will be apprehended within the next two days, Barguna Superintendent of Police (SP), Maruf Hossain, told journalists in his office yesterday (Saturday). “We are not sitting idle. We are closing our net and no one will be able to escape from it. We have plugged all holes.” He said it might take two more days to bring all the culprits under the law. “We need your help” he said.

As of now, three persons have been arrested so far in connection with Rifat’s murder. The two prime accused, Sabbir Hossain, alias Nayan Bond, and Rifat Farajee, are still at large. The SP said a committee has been formed to find out whether there was any negligence on the part of law enforcers in the murder investigation.

The SP told The Independent that the investigation committee has started its job, and the main accused will be detained soon. On Friday night, the police detained a person named Saimun. His name is not on the list, but he is a close friend of the main accused, Nayan Bond. He is in custody.

The Barguna police arrested him from the front of the Patuakhali Girls’ School with the help of the Patuakhali Sadar thana police. The officer-in-charge (OC) of Amtali police station, Abul Bashar, said: “We have detained Saimun to trace the other accused.” The police are interrogating the family members of the accused. At least 15 family members have been taken into custody for interrogation. Abdul Halim Dulal Sharif, father

of Rifat, filed the murder case with the police station, accusing 12 persons, Sabbir Ahmed, alias Nayan Bond, 25, Md Rifat Farazi, 23, Md. Rishan Farazi, 20, Chandan, 21, Md. Musa, Md. Rabbi Akan, 19, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, 19, Raihan, 19, Md Hasan, 19, Rifat, 20, Oli, 22, Tiktok Hridoy, 21, and five or six unidentified persons.

Police sources said the gruesome killing of the Barguna youth, Rifat Sharif, in front of his wife was pre-planned. It was planned at least seven days before. The final meeting was held on Tuesday (June 25th), the day before the murder.

Sources said Nayan (main accused) and his accomplishes had been watching the movement of Rifat since Wednesday (the day of the murder) morning. They were standing in front of the Barguna Government College as Rifat would come to drop his wife, Ayesha Siddiqui. Rifat, 25, an internet service provider, was killed in front of his wife in broad daylight. Talking to The Independent, locals said the name “Bond” is a movie name and Nayan added the name to the last part of his. He also created a messenger group named “007” which is also the code of the “Bond” movie.

The group was involved in all types of wrong-doings like extortions, addiction, drug dealings etc. Kazi Reazul Haque, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said yesterday that the rule of law hasn’t yet been established in the country. Because of this, Rifat was hacked to death and Nusrat was burnt alive.

The NHRC chairman said the culture of lawlessness is the main reason behind the murder of Rifat. He told journalists after attending the 5th National Conference of Sector Commanders at the city’s Officers’ Club.

“It is easy to arrest Nayan. It is not difficult, especially since Barguna is a small town and he is a known face,” aid the NHRC boss.

The police can complete the investigation and submit charge-sheets within one month if they want to, the NHRC chief said, adding that only then can the justice process be hastened.

“Owing to the delay in the legal process, criminals believe they can get away with any crime very easily,” Kazi Reazul Hoque said.

On Wednesday Rifat was murdered in broad daylight. Footage shows he was attacked with sharp weapons in front of his wife. He was pronounced dead at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (BSMCH) later.

The entire incident of Rifat’s murder, which was captured possibly on a mobile phone, shows the attack on the youth in front of the Barguna Government College around 10:30am on Wednesday, where Rifat went to drop his wife. Footage of the incident went viral on the social media the same day.