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

The High Court on Tuesday fixed October 13 to hear the bail petition by former Sonagazi Police Station officer-in-charge Moazzem Hossain in a case filed under the Digital Security Act, UNB reports.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman fixed the date after accepting the appeal for hearing.

Moazzem moved the court again on August 5 after his bail was denied on July 9.

Advocate Ahsan Ullah and Rana Kawsar represented the former OC in court while Deputy Attorney General Md Sarowar Hossain and Assistant Attorney General Sahana Parvin represented the state. Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon represented the plaintiff.

Charges were framed against Moazzem at the Cyber Tribunal on July 17. The tribunal set September 1 for recording testimonies of the witnesses.

The former OC is accused of unlawfully interrogating Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi and recording it on phone. A video of the incident went viral on the social media, prompting lawyer Sumon to file a case against the policeman on April 15 under the Digital Security Act.

Moazzem had summoned Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa's Principal Sirajuddoula and Nusrat, who accused the teacher of sexually harassing her. The girl’s mother had filed a case with Sonagazi police over her daughter’s harassment.

The former OC interrogated Nusrat in the absence of her lawyer or any other woman and used inappropriate language.

Nusrat was later set on fire on April 6 at an exam centre, reportedly by people loyal to Sirajuddoula. She died on April 10 at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Moazzem was initially withdrawn and later suspended on May 10. A tribunal ordered his arrest on May 27 after investigators found allegations brought against him to be true. He was arrested on June 16 from Dhaka’s Shahbagh.

The next day, the Cyber Tribunal rejected his bail plea and sent him to jail.