A Barguna court has placed Ayesha Siddiqua Minni, wife of murdered Barguna youth Rifat Sharif, on a five day remand.

Md Sirajul Islam Gazi of Barguna Senior Judicial Magistrate court gave the order when she was produced in court with a seven-day remand prayer, around 3pm on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, police detained Minni from her father's house at Nayakata Maitya area in the district town for questioning. After a long interrogation, she was arrested around 9pm as ‘initial evidence’ pointed to her involvement in the much talked about murder, said Barguna Police Super Maruf Hossain.

Maruf Hossain, the case investigation officer, sought Minni's remand at the remand hearing saying that the evidence including a mobile call list point against her, said additional public prosecutor Sanjib Das.

One of the accused, Rezwan Ali Khan Hridoy, alias Tiktok Hridoy, said in his confessional statement that Minni was involved in the murder planning, according to the public prosecutor citing the investigation officer.

Claiming herself to be innocent, Minni told the court she was the victim of a conspiracy and that she was threatened by the accused several times. She also sought justice for her husband.

When the court asked her to elaborate on her innocence, Minni rejected the allegation leveled at her, and described it as propaganda launched to protect the killers.

"Rifat Sharif is my husband and I'm not involved in the murder of my husband. I want justice for my husband," she told the court.

Rifat Sharif, 22, was hacked to death in front of his wife Minni, by criminals in broad daylight, in the district town on June 26. Police also have CCTV footage of the incident.

Rifat's father Abdul Halim Dulal, the plaintiff in the case, at a Saturday press conference at Barguna Press Club, demanded the arrest of his daughter-in-law Minni, for her alleged involvement in the murder.

To date, 14 people have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder. Of the fourteen, ten have confessed to their crimes, eight of whom have been sent to prison, and another being underage, is being held at a safe house.

The prime accused, Nayan Bond, was killed in a gunfight on July 2.

Rifat’s father filed a murder case with Barguna police station against 12 named and five or six unknown attackers.

Deshsangbad/fh/mmh