A special tribunal on Monday ordered arrest of former officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Police Station, Moazzem Hossain, on charges of recording Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s statement and releasing the video on social media. Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge Ash Shams Joglul Hossain issued the arrest warrant after Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted a police report confirming Moazzem’s involvement.
Investigation officer and PBI senior ASP Rima Sultana filed the report at Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal on Sunday, stating that they have found the allegations brought against the police official true. Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman filed the case on April 15 with Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal on Monday afternoon under section 26, 29 and 31 of Digital Security Act (DSA).
Recording the testimony of the plaintiff, Judge Mohammad Ash Shams Jaglul Hossain of Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal asked deputy inspector general of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to submit probe report on April 30. The former OC was accused of illegally interrogating madrasa student Nusrat and recording the episode on his phone. The video was later circulated on the social media.
Moazzem summoned Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa’s Principal Siraj Ud Doula and Nusrat to the police station after the latter accused her teacher of sexually harassing her. The OC interrogated Nusrat in the absence of her lawyer or any other woman. She was crying but the OC paid no heed and kept questioning her using inappropriate language.
Nusrat’s mother had filed a case with Sonagazi police over her daughter’s sexual harassment. On April 6, the girl was set on fire at an exam centre in Sonagazi upazila, reportedly by people loyal to Siraj Ud Doula. She died on April 10 at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Moazzem was withdrawn the same day and suspended a month later on charge of negligence.
