Ex-OC of Sonagazi refused bail, sent to jail

Dhaka, June 17 – Dhaka Cyber Crimes Tribunal yesterday sent former officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi police station Moazzem Hossain to jail after rejecting his bail plea in connection with a case filed for recording Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s statement on video and spreading it online.
Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal passed the order in a jam-packed courtroom at around 2.30pm and set June 30 for framing charges in the case.
Moazzem, who was arrested from capital’s Shabagh area yesterday, was produced before the court at around 2.25pm. He was brought to court lockup at around 12.30pm.
During yesterday’s court proceedings, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sayeedul Haque Sumon, who is also the petitioner of the case, told the tribunal that OC Moazzem did not show respect to the law despite being a member of maintaining law and order.
After issuing arrest warrant by the tribunal, OC Moazzem would have appeared before the court and submit petition seeking bail in the case. But, OC Moazzem did not do so. Rather he has been absconding. It is a stigma for the police department, Barrister Sumon said.
Public Prosecutor of Cyber Tribunal Advocate Nazrul Islam Shamin prayed to the court to send OC Moazzem to jail after rejecting his bail petition.
However, Advocate Farul Ahmed, counsel for OC Moazzem, sought bail saying that OC Moazzem did not hide himself as he stayed in the country.
After seeing newspaper reports, Moazzem became know that an arrest warrant has been issued against him and subsequently he went to High Court seeking bail in the case. But, law enforcers arrested him without giving him any opportunity to appear before the court, he added.
Later, he sought bail saying that OC Moazzem would not run away after securing bail in the case. But, the tribunal denied bail and sent him to jail.
Earlier, on tribunal on May 27 issued arrest warrant against the disgraced cop a day after Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted its probe report over the incident.
Investigation officer and PBI senior ASP Rima Sultana filed the report at Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal on May 26, 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 this afternoon under section 26, 29 and 31 of Digital Security Act (DSA).
Recording the testimony of the plaintiff, Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain of Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal asked deputy inspector general of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to submit probe report on April 30.
According to the allegations, the former Sonagazi OC summoned Nusrat as she filed a case against Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa principal Sirajuddoula for sexual harassment.
The police official in his room started quizzing her about the incident and was recording the whole incident in absence of any lawyer or female cop. He was seen scolding her and asking Nusrat indecent questions. Moazzem later posted the video on different social media sites.
Nusrat was set on fire on April 6 by Sirajuddoula’s stooges and she succumbed to her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 10.
Nusrat had accused Sirajuddoula of harassing her sexually on March 27 while she was exposed to his extreme vengeance on April 6 as she went to the madrasa to appear in Alim examination.
A group of masked youths, later found to be the cronies of the disgraced principal, took Nusrat to the rooftop of the madrasa and set her on fire after tying her with her scarf. – Staff Reporter