OC Moazzem denied bail, sent to jail

A Dhaka court on Monday sent former officer-in-charge of Sonagazi police station Moazzem Hossain to jail, rejecting his bail petition in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

Judge of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Ash-Shams Jaglul Hussein passed the order when Faruk Ahmed, a lawyer for Moazzem Hossain, sought bail for him, reports UNB.

The court also fixed 30 June for hearing on charge framing in the case.

Earlier, police arrested Moazzem Hossain from the High Court area on Sunday in a case filed over circulating a video on social media on Feni madrasa girl Nusrat Jahan Rafi's statement at Sonagazi police station.

On 27 May, a Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Moazzem Hossain in the case. But he could not be traced after the issuance of warrant for his arrest.

Allegations brought against Moazzem after Nusrat Jahan Rafi's murder was found to be authentic by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).

Supreme Court lawyer Syeddul Haque Sumon filed the case against Moazzem under the Digital Security Act on 15 May.

The former OC was accused of illegally interrogating Nusrat and recording the episode on his phone. The video was later circulated on the social media.

Moazzem summoned Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa's principal Sirajud Doula and Nusrat to the police station after the latter accused her teacher of sexually harassing her.

The OC interrogated Nusrat in the absence of her lawyer or any other woman. She was crying but the OC paid no heed and kept questioning her using inappropriate language.

Nusrat's mother had filed a case with Sonagazi police station over her daughter's sexual harassment. On 6 April, the girl was set on fire at an exam centre in Sonagazi upazila, by people loyal to Siraj Ud Doula. She died on 10 April at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Moazzem was withdrawn the same day and suspended a month later on charge of negligence of duty.