A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against Moazzem Hossain, the former Sonagazi officer-in-charge (OC), for spreading a video of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi on social media.
Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge Ash-Shams Jaglul Hussein passed the order on Monday, after the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted a probe report before the court.
According to the probe report, Moazzem was found guilty under sections 26, 29 and 31 of the Digital Security Act for spreading a video of Nusrat’s statement on Facebook.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon, who filed the petition against Moazzem, was present at court.
The court fixed June 17 for the next hearing, to be informed about updates regarding the arrest.
On April 15, a petition case was filed against former Sonagazi OC Moazzem by Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon under the Digital Security Act, which was later accepted as a case.
According to case details, Nusrat went to Sonagazi model police station to file a case against Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa Principal Sirajuddaula on March 27 for sexually assaulting her the day before.
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Moazzem recorded a video of her statement without her consent, while asking her offensive and insulting questions. The video then emerged on various social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube. It was alleged that Moazzem had spread the video on social media.
Moazzem, whose voice was heard in the video, had also appeared unconcerned about Nusrat’s complaints and said the sexual assault incident was nothing major. He also asked Nusrat to go home, and assured her of taking steps in accordance with her written complaint. However, no action was taken against Sirajuddaula. She died two weeks later.
On April 10, Moazzem was withdrawn from his post as Sonagazi police OC and transferred to the Armed Police Battalion, after Nusrat’s family alleged that he had not been cooperating with them.
On April 11, Barrister Sumon saw the video on social media, which prompted him to file the petition against Moazzem for breaking the law.
Nusrat, who was an Alim examinee, suffered 80% burns when she was set on fire on April 6 by four unknown burqa-clad assailants – who were allegedly followers of Sirajuddaula – on the roof of the madrasa at Sonagazi, for refusing to withdraw the rape attempt case her family had filed against Sirajuddaula.
After she was set on fire, her family filed another case against eight people, including Sirajuddaula, on April 8.
The 18-year-old girl died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on April 10, after battling death for five days.
Most of the accused have already been arrested and remanded for different time periods, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina personally assuring that every single person involved in Nusrat’s murder would be brought to book.
