Court Correspondent :
Moazzem Hossain, former Officer-in-Charge of Feni’s Sonagazi Police Station, yesterday sentenced to eight years’ rigorous imprisonment (RI) in the case filed for filming madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s statement and circulating its video clip on social media without her consent.
Judge Ash Sams Joglul Hossain of Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal handed down the verdict in presence of the accused Moazzem around 2:40 pm on Thursday. The convict was also fined Tk 10 lakh, in default of which he will have to serve six months more in the prison. The fine money will be handed over to Nusrat’s family, the court order says.
After the verdict was pronounced in the crowded courtroom, Moazzem’s lawyer Advocate Faruk Ahmed said they would appeal with the higher court against this verdict.
Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, was set on fire on April 6 at an examination centre of Alim examination by students loyal to Principal Siraj-Ud Dowla for refusing to withdraw a case filed against Feni’s Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa Principal Siraj on the charge of sexually harassing her. With 75 per cent burns, Nusrat was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit. Fighting for five days, she died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit on April 10. The incident triggered huge public outcry across the country.
The same day, OC Moazzem was withdrawn from Sonagazi Police Station, as Nusrat’s family alleged that he was not cooperating with them. Moazzem was suspended for his negligence of duty over Nusrat murder. A video clip of the then Sonagazi OC asking Nusrat humiliating questions in his room about the incident in absence of any lawyer and female cop also went viral on social media, which drew widespread criticism. Moazzem was seen scolding Nusrat and asking her indecent questions. However, Nusrat had gone to Moazzem’s office to file a complaint against Siraj.
Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon on April 15 filed the case against Moazzem under sections 26, 29 and 31 of the Digital Security Act 2018 for filming and circulating the video.
Moazzem was suspended on May 8 over negligence of duty and attached to the office of DIG (Rangpur range). He was arrested by police from the Supreme Court area on June 16. The following day, the cyber tribunal rejected his bail petition and sent him to the jail. Later, on July 9, a High Court bench also rejected the bail plea of Moazzem in the case, saying that he utterly failed to protect the life of Nusrat and damaged police department’s image.
On May 23, Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Rima Sultana who is an Additional Police Super of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted the charge sheet of the case to the tribunal on behalf of PBI. On July 17, the tribunal framed charges against Moazzem in the case.
The Cyber Tribunal on November 20 fixed November 28 for delivering the verdict on completion of submission of arguments from the prosecution and defense. The tribunal recorded the depositions of 12 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant, Nusrat’s mother, brother and two fellow friends to deliver the verdict.
