Nusrat murder

OC Moazzem failed to discharge duties

Observes tribunal while sentencing him to 8yrs in jail

Moazzem Hossain, suspended officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi police station, had failed to perform his duty when Nusrat Jahan Rafi came to him, seeking justice against her sexual harassment. The Dhaka Cyber Tribunal came up with the observation yesterday (Thursday) while sentencing the former police officer to eight years of rigorous imprisonment. A case had been filed against Moazzem for illegally recording Nusrat’s statement and circulating it online. The tribunal also observed that the suspended OC had sexually harassed Nusrat for a second time by illegally recording her statement and circulating the video clip on the social media without her consent.

In a packed courtroom, Judge Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain of the Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka handed down the judgment in the presence of the lone accused, Moazzem, around 2:40pm.

The tribunal also fined him Tk.10 lakh. He will have to serve an additional six months in jail if he failed to pay the amount.

The fine money will be handed over to Nusrat's family, the court observed.

It was the first conviction under the Digital Security Act.

Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman, plaintiff of the case, expressed satisfaction over the verdict.

He said Moazzem had been convicted for unlawfully interrogating Feni madrasa student Nusrat and circulating the video clip on the social media without her consent.

The former OC committed a crime by

unlawfully recording Nusrat’s statement and his offence had been proved, Suman said.

On the other hand, advocate Faruk Ahmed, counsel for the former police officer, expressed dissatisfaction over the verdict, saying they would appeal against it in the High Court (HC).

“We are not happy with the verdict. We will file an appeal before the HC,” Ahmed said.  

Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, was set on fire on April 6, allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case filed against Feni’s Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa principal, Siraj-ud-Daula, for sexually harassing her.

After fighting for her life for five days, she died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 10.

The same day, Moazzem was withdrawn from his post of Sonagazi police station OC, as Nusrat’s family alleged that he was not cooperating with them.

Moazzem was suspended in May for negligence in duty over Nusrat’s murder.

The former OC interrogated Nusrat in the absence of her lawyer or any guardian and used inappropriate language. A video clip of the then Sonagazi OC asking Nusrat humiliating questions also went viral on the social media, drawing widespread criticism.

Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman on April 15 filed the case against Moazzem under the Digital Security Act, for circulating the video.

On November 12, the tribunal recorded the statements of defence witnesses after taking the deposition of the prosecution’s witnesses. The Police Bureau of Investigation’s (PBI’s) senior ASP Rima Sultana, investigating officer of the case, submitted her report to the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal on May 26, stating that they found the allegations brought against the police officer to be true.

On July 17, the tribunal framed charges against Moazzem in the case.

The tribunal recorded statements of 12 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant, Nusrat’s mother, sister and two friends.

The Cyber Tribunal on November 20 fixed November 28 for delivering the verdict on completion of placing arguments from the prosecution and defence.

Nusrat had accused madrasa principal Siraj-ud-Daula of harassing her sexually on March 27.  Subsequently, she was exposed to his extreme vengeance on April 6, when she went to the madrasa to appear for her Alim exams.

A group of masked youths, later found to be cronies of the disgraced principal, took Nusrat to the rooftop of the madrasa, tied her down with a scarf, and set her on fire.

On October 24, a Feni court sentenced 16 people to death in the Nusrat murder case.

Nusrat murder

OC Moazzem failed to discharge duties

Observes tribunal while sentencing him to 8yrs in jail

Moazzem Hossain, suspended officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi police station, had failed to perform his duty when Nusrat Jahan Rafi came to him, seeking justice against her sexual harassment. The Dhaka Cyber Tribunal came up with the observation yesterday (Thursday) while sentencing the former police officer to eight years of rigorous imprisonment. A case had been filed against Moazzem for illegally recording Nusrats statement and circulating it online. The tribunal also observed that the suspended OC had sexually harassed Nusrat for a second time by illegally recording her statement and circulating the video clip on the social media without her consent. In a packed courtroom, Judge Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain of the Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka handed down the judgment in the presence of the lone accused, Moazzem, around 2:40pm. The tribunal also fined him Tk.10 lakh. He will have to serve an additional six months in jail if he failed to pay the amount. The fine money will be handed over to Nusrats family, the court observed. It was the first conviction under the Digital Security Act. Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman, plaintiff of the case, expressed satisfaction over the verdict. He said Moazzem had been convicted for unlawfully interrogating Feni madrasa student Nusrat and circulating the video clip on the social media without her consent. The former OC committed a crime by unlawfully recording Nusrats statement and his offence had been proved, Suman said. On the other hand, advocate Faruk Ahmed, counsel for the former police officer, expressed dissatisfaction over the verdict, saying they would appeal against it in the High Court (HC). We are not happy with the verdict. We will file an appeal before the HC, Ahmed said. Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, was set on fire on April 6, allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case filed against Fenis Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa principal, Siraj-ud-Daula, for sexually harassing her. After fighting for her life for five days, she died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 10. The same day, Moazzem was withdrawn from his post of Sonagazi police station OC, as Nusrats family alleged that he was not cooperating with them. Moazzem was suspended in May for negligence in duty over Nusrats murder. The former OC interrogated Nusrat in the absence of her lawyer or any guardian and used inappropriate language. A video clip of the then Sonagazi OC asking Nusrat humiliating questions also went viral on the social media, drawing widespread criticism. Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman on April 15 filed the case against Moazzem under the Digital Security Act, for circulating the video. On November 12, the tribunal recorded the statements of defence witnesses after taking the deposition of the prosecutions witnesses. The Police Bureau of Investigations (PBIs) senior ASP Rima Sultana, investigating officer of the case, submitted her report to the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal on May 26, stating that they found the allegations brought against the police officer to be true. On July 17, the tribunal framed charges against Moazzem in the case. The tribunal recorded statements of 12 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant, Nusrats mother, sister and two friends. The Cyber Tribunal on November 20 fixed November 28 for delivering the verdict on completion of placing arguments from the prosecution and defence. Nusrat had accused madrasa principal Siraj-ud-Daula of harassing her sexually on March 27. Subsequently, she was exposed to his extreme vengeance on April 6, when she went to the madrasa to appear for her Alim exams. A group of masked youths, later found to be cronies of the disgraced principal, took Nusrat to the rooftop of the madrasa, tied her down with a scarf, and set her on fire. On October 24, a Feni court sentenced 16 people to death in the Nusrat murder case.