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Murder of Rifat Sharif

SOLVED2019Barguna town, Bangladesh3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On 26 June 2019, Rifat Sharif, a 25-year-old internet service provider, was attacked with sharp weapons outside Barguna Government College in Barguna, Bangladesh. A mobile-phone video of the attack circulated widely. His wife, Ayesha Siddika Minni, was seen trying to intervene. Sharif was taken to Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Sharif’s father filed a murder case the next day naming 12 people. Police identified Sabbir Hossain Nayan, known as Nayan Bond, and Rifat Farazi as principal suspects. Nayan was killed on 2 July 2019 in what police described as a “crossfire,” and Farazi was arrested the following day. Police arrested Minni on 16 July and later alleged that she had helped plan the killing; a statement police described as her confession was recorded during the investigation.

On 1 September 2019, police filed separate charge sheets covering 10 adults and 14 juvenile defendants. The adult trial began in 2020 and heard testimony from 76 witnesses.

On 30 September 2020, the Barguna District and Sessions Judge’s Court convicted six adults, including Minni, and sentenced them to death; it acquitted four others. The six death sentences were referred to the High Court for confirmation, and the defendants filed appeals. As of 2026, the death references and appeals remained pending.

Key facts

Victims
Rifat Sharif
Date
2019
Location
Barguna town, Bangladesh
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2019-06-26

    Rifat Sharif was attacked with sharp weapons in front of Barguna Government College and later died of his injuries.

  2. 2019-06-27

    Rifat's father, Dulal Sharif, filed a murder case accusing 12 persons.

  3. 2019-07-02

    Main accused Sabbir Hossain Nayan, alias Nayan Bond, was killed in crossfire.

  4. 2019-07-03

    Another key accused, Rifat Farazi, was arrested.

  5. 2019-07-16

    Rifat Sharif's wife, Ayesha Siddika Minni, was arrested.

  6. 2019-07-18

    Minni reportedly confessed her part in the murder.

  7. 2019-09-01

    Police placed charges against Minni and 23 others for alleged involvement in the murder.

  8. 2020-01-01

    The court indicted the 10 adult accused, including Minni, in the case.

  9. 2020-01-12

    The trial of 14 minors accused in the murder case began.

  10. 2020-09-30

    District and Sessions Judge of Barguna sentenced six accused, including Ayesha Siddika Minni, to death; four other accused were acquitted.

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People

  • Rifat Farazi

    CHARGED

    Identified as a key accused in the attack on Rifat Sharif; arrested 3 July 2019.

  • Rifat Sharif

    VICTIM

    25-year-old internet service provider attacked and killed on 26 June 2019 in Barguna, Bangladesh.

  • Ayesha Siddika Minni

    CONVICTED

    Rifat Sharif's wife; arrested 16 July 2019, indicted 1 January 2020, and sentenced to death on 30 September 2020 for her alleged role in the murder.

  • Sabbir Hossain Nayan

    CHARGED

    Identified as the main accused, alias Nayan Bond, in the attack on Rifat Sharif; killed in crossfire on 2 July 2019 before trial.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Barguna town, Bangladesh

22.1591, 90.1263

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Rifat Sharif, a 25-year-old internet service provider, was fatally attacked outside Barguna Government College in Bangladesh on 26 June 2019. A trial court sentenced six adults, including his wife Ayesha Siddika Minni, to death in 2020 and acquitted four; the death references and appeals remain pending before the High Court as of 2026.
Where did the murder happen?
Barguna town, Bangladesh.
Who was convicted?
Ayesha Siddika Minni (Rifat Sharif's wife; arrested 16 July 2019, indicted 1 January 2020, and sentenced to death on 30 September 2020 for her alleged role in the murder.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Bangladesh

Sources

  1. PRESSSwift trials, slow appeals: Death penalty cases stall at High CourtThe Daily Star · 2026-07-11
  2. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Rifat SharifWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — thedailystar.netthedailystar.net · 2026-07-10