Sonagazi OC filmed Nusrat’s statement

An inspector of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) yesterday told a Dhaka tribunal that suspended Sonagazi OC Moazzem Hossain had filmed the statement of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi on his mobile phone.

Mohammad Abdul Badi, inspector of PBI’s Digital Forensic Department, in a statement said he had conducted forensic tests on the two seized mobile phones of OC Moazzem and found that the official himself recorded Nusrat’s statement on his phone at his office. 

Later, the footage was circulated on social media through a mobile application without her consent, Badi said. Defence lawyer then cross-examined him on different points.

Two friends of Nusrat -- Nishat Sultana and Nasrin Sultana Furti -- also gave their statements yesterday before the tribunal.

Nishat in her statement, said Nusrat was violated by Principal Siraj Ud Doula on March 27. After the incident, police went to the madrasa and took her, along with Nusrat, Furti and Siraj, to Sonagazi Police Station. 

“We all went to the OC’s room, but Principal Siraj was taken to a separate room. OC Moazzem then asked me to wait in another room. 

“After 10 minutes, the OC called me to his room and asked me about the incident. When I asked him why he was videoing my statement on his mobile, he said it was for the sake of investigation,” Nishat said.    

Later I came to know that the OC also had filmed the statements of Nusrat and Furti, said Nishat, adding that a few days later she saw the video on Facebook and YouTube.

Furti gave an almost identical statement before the tribunal. 

Later they were cross-examined by the defence lawyer on different points.   

Judge Ash Sams Joglul Hossain of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal recorded their statements for two hours and fixed November 11 for the next hearing of the case.

The tribunal asked the investigation officer of the case to appear before it on that scheduled date to narrate what he found in his probe.

Earlier, the tribunal recorded statements of eight prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case.   

On April 15, Supreme Court lawyer Sayedul Haque Sumon filed the case against Moazzem.

Nusrat was set on fire on April 6, after refusing to withdraw a case she had filed against her madrasa principal Siraj Ud Doula for sexually harassing her. She died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 10.

The OC was withdrawn on the same day after Nusrat’s family alleged that he had not cooperated with them.

During that time, a video clip of Moazzem asking Nusrat several humiliating questions went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. 

Moazzem was suspended on May 8 for negligence in duty.

Police later arrested him in the capital’s Supreme Court area.

Meanwhile, a Feni court sentenced 16 people to death on October 24 for their roles in murdering the madrasa student.