Refat killing judgment: a review

Mohammad Didare Alam MuhsinMohammad Didare Alam Muhsin
Published : 7 Oct 2020, 11:12 AM
Updated : 7 Oct 2020, 11:12 AM

Six convicts, including Aysha Siddika Minny, the widow of slain Refat Shorif, were sentenced to death by the honourable court, while four other accused were acquitted of the charges because their involvement with the incident was not proven. One of the four acquitted was absconding right from the beginning and didn't appear before the court during judgment as well.

One of the important aspects of this brutal and sensational murder case had been the demise of the key accused of the case Sabbir Ahmed Nayon alias Nayon Bond, 25, in a gunfight with police several days after the incident. Nayon had formed a criminal gang of youngsters named 'Bond 007' under the shelter of influential local quarters. The gang had been involved for long with various crimes, including mugging, abuse and selling of illicit drugs, sexual harassment, trading stolen motorbikes, etc.

Though locals, including Refat's father, expressed their satisfaction over the verdict, the investigation and trial of the incident could be more meaningful if Nayon, the mastermind of the killing, could have been held alive (that didn't happen, unfortunately). If Nayon were alive, the role of Minny and other convicts could have been determined more precisely on the one hand, and on the other hand, it would have brought an opportunity to explore how Sabbir Ahmed Nayon, the son of a deceased banker father, transformed into a dangerous criminal Nayon Bond. Could the honourable court pass a directive for chasing in future more carefully this kind of accused in such a case so that the accused were not killed and could be arrested alive?

Another significant aspect of the judgment was issuing the death sentence to the widow of slain Refat. Certainly, the honourable court found sufficient evidence of her involvement with the incident to hold her accountable. What's been learnt from the media: Minny had maintained a relationship with Nayon even after marriage. Somehow Refat was able to sense the issue leading to a feud with Minny and that ultimately incited her to seek help from Nayon to punish her husband. The later incidents were sequelae of this.

Though the honourable court considered Minny to have been sufficiently involved with the incident to sentence her to death, you may find here a few points worthy of special attention:

First, why did Minny hid her relationship with Nayon and married Refat? Willingly or being pressed by her guardian? Considering Refat as a better candidate? Did her guardian know the depth of her relationship with Nayon?

Second, why was Minny maintaining a relation with Nayon even after her marriage with Refat? Was that because she still had her emotion for Nayon? To save herself and her husband from any potential harm by a criminal like Nayon? Or, because Nayon had some audiovisual documents of her past relationship with him and she was afraid that Nayon could release them to trouble her status in the family and in the society?

If you give careful thought to the above points, it comes to our social commitment to the young generation. This society can trial youngsters like Minny and Nayon, can shame aloud upon their vitiation and derailment, but could it recognise that these Minnys and Nayons are inevitable products of its poisoned culture? Could it take any responsibility for this? Could it do anything to save its school- or college-going youngsters other than shaming them and whispering scandals when they get involved with socially unacceptable activities in the name of love affairs? Could it do anything to protect girls going to schools, colleges or universities when they are teased by some wicked, profligate boys in the name of 'love proposal' and are forced to get involved in socially unacceptable activities in the name of 'love affairs' either willingly or against their will? Do you think the abandoned newborns often found these days here and there fall down from heavens?

Unless you have gotten answers to these so many "whys or hows", you may assume more tragedies, like the story of Refat, Minny and Nayon, are waiting for you in this society to come one after another.

And, until then we can only seek refuge to Allah, the saviour.