HC to hear ex-Sonagazi OC’s bail plea Oct 13

The High Court today admitted for hearing an appeal filed by former officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi Police Station Moazzem Hossain seeking bail in a case filed on charges of recording a statement of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi and circulating the video clip on social media.

After holding a hearing, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also fixed October 13 for hearing the appeal.

Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi told The Daily Star that former OC Moazzem cannot get released from jail as he was not granted bail by the HC. 

Moazzem submitted the appeal to the HC on July 31 seeking bail through a lawyer, Advocate Rana Kawser, in the case filed under the Digital Security Act.

In the appeal, he also challenged a lower court order that on July 30 rejected his bail petition in the same case, saying that he is ill and he will not leave the country and will face the trial proceedings of the case if he is granted bail in the case.

Today, Advocate Md Ahsan Ullah and Advocate Rana Kawser appeared for Moazzem.

On April 15, Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman filed the case with Dhaka Cyber Tribunal against Moazzem under Digital Security Act, for recording the statement of sexual assault victim Nusrat on camera without her consent, and circulating it on social media.

Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa in Feni, made national headlines after she 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.

After fighting for her life, she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital on April 10.

Her death triggered a huge public outcry across the country.

OC Moazzem Hossain was withdrawn the same day as Nusrat’s family alleged that he was not cooperating with them.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).

Police arrested Moazzem from the Supreme Court area on June 16. The following day, a Dhaka tribunal rejected his bail petition and sent him to jail.

On July 9, the HC bench of Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khizir Hayat rejected a bail petition of Moazzem in connection with the case, saying that Moazzem, the then OC of Sonagazi Police Station, utterly failed to protect the life of Nusrat and damaged police department’s image.