Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal yesterday fixed November 28 to deliver the verdict in the case filed against suspended Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Feni’s Sonagazi Police Station Moazzem Hossain under the Digital Security Act.
The case was lodged over filming statement of slain madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi and circulating the video on social
media. Judge As-Shams Joglul Hossain set the date after conclusion of the arguments from both the prosecution and defence Wednesday afternoon.
On July 17, the tribunal framed charges against former OC Moazzem over filming Nusrat’s statement and circulating the video footage on social media without her consent.
Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman filed the case with the tribunal against Moazzem Under Sections 26, 29 and 31 of the Digital Security Act on April 15.
On May 23, Investigation Officer (IO) 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.
A total of 12 witnesses including Nusrat’s mother, brother and two fellow friends testified in the case.
Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa of Feni, was set on fire on April 6, allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case filed against madrasa Principal Siraj Ud Doula for sexually harassing her.
With 75 per cent burns, she was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s Burn Unit. After fighting for life, she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital on April 10. The
incident triggered huge public outcry across the country.
A video clip shows Moazzem asking Nusrat some humiliating questions about the incident and recording the whole incident in absence of any lawyer or female cop. Nusrat had gone to Moazzem’s office to file a complaint against Siraj. Moazzem, later posted the video on different social media sites. OC Moazzem Hossain was withdrawn as Nusrat’s family alleged that he was not cooperating with them. He 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 in the city on June 16. The following day, the tribunal rejected his bail petition and sent him to the jail.
On July 9 a High Court bench rejected the bail petition of Moazzem in the case, saying that Moazzem utterly failed to protect the life of Nusrat and damaged police department’s image.
