Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
A five-member investigation team of Police Headquarters (PHQs) has grilled Feni’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Jahangir Alam and former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sonagazi Police Station Moazzem Hossain in connection with Nusrat Jahan Rafi sexually harassment and arson case.
The team reportedly interrogated 38 suspects also, including few cops personnel, the members of the madrasa governing body and local ruling party men in connection with the gruesome incidents, PHQs sources said.
The PHQs panel gave emphasis on the letter sent by Jahangir Alam to the Police Headquarters on 11 April. The SP blamed Nusrat’s family for ‘dillydallying’ in filing the case over her death, they said.
The team verified the alleged negligence of local administration, including ex-Sonagazi OC Moazzem Hossain, according to them.
The panel questioned the members of the Managing Committee of Sonagazi Fazil Madrasa for their inactive role to save the life of Nusrat who lost her life following a sexual harassment case against the madrasa Principal Siraj Ud-Daula.
The team members have quizzed the local councilors and ruling Awami League men who arranged human-chin and rally to support the notorious principal when he was sent to jail.
The PHQs panel led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG-media) SM Ruhul Amin have grilled at least 40 suspects in connection with the murder of the madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi since April 17.
In the meantime, three days after taking the responsibility of investigating the Nusrat murder case, Banerjee Kumar Majumder, Head of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), submitted the primary report of the investigation to the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
According to PHQ sources, Feni SP Jahangir Alam attempted to save ex Sonagazi OC Moazzem Hossain for his questionable role.
The SP blamed Nusrat’s family for ‘dillydallying’ in filing the case after her death, they said. The letter was forwarded to the police headquarters, the special branch and the DIG office of Chattogram range, they said.
Accordiong to the letter, though the police requested Nusrat’s family repeatedly to lodge a case, they delayed. As the police tried to file a case by her uncle as a plaintiff, Nusrat’s brother Mahmudul Hassan opposed. Mahmudul Hassan changed the case statement two times, the letter elaborated.
Police Super Jahangir Alam, however, declined to comment regarding the allegations.
Nusrat’s family also alleged that the letter was sent to protect the OC.
According to family, police played foul with the case statement. They demanded their security from the local administration and law enforcing agencies.
Moazzem Hossain was withdrawn on April 10 following the plaintiff’s no-confidence in him. He was attached to Armed Police Battalion (APBn) Headquarters in the city’s Uttara.
He had been sued with Cyber Crimes Tribunal under the Digital Security Act.
According to the case statement, the OC called Nusrat at the police station on March 27 after she filed a case against Maulana SirajUd Doula, Principal of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, for sexually harassing her.
During interrogation at the police station, he put into her offensive and unpleasant questions regarding the incident. Later, the OC spread the video on social media.
DIG Ruhul Amin said that the team grilled few police personnel, Nusrat’s family members, Madrasa Managing Committee members and local councilors and Al men.
We have gathered vital evidence, crime clues, accused’s confessional statement and records to investigate the murder incident properly, he said.
The investigation report will be submitted to the concerned authorities in next week, according to him.
However, police have so far arrested 21 people in connection with the murder, he added.
On April 6, a group of five unidentified persons poured kerosene on the 18-year old Nusrat and set her afire allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case against the principal of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa over sexual assault on her late last month.
There was a complaint of sexual harassment by madrasa student Nusrat against the principal Siraj Ud-Daula. Nusrat’s mother Shirin Akhter filed a case with Sonagazi Police Station on March 27. Then the police arrested the principal. Nusrat’s family was under pressure to lift the case.
