HC accepts hearing of appeal by former OC Moazzem

The High Court yesterday accepted the hearing of 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 Nusrat Jahan Rafi and circulating the video on social media.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman set October 13 for hearing the appeal.

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

Moazzem submitted an appeal through Advocate Rana Kawser to the HC on July 31, seeking bail.

In the appeal, he also challenged a lower court order that on July 30 rejected his bail petition in the same case.

Advocates Md Ahsan Ullah and Rana Kawser appeared for Moazzem yesterday.

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

Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa in Feni, 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 percent 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.

Moazzem was withdrawn the same day of the incident as Nusrat’s family alleged that he was not cooperating with them. He was suspended on May 8 over negligence of duty.

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 failed to protect Nusrat’s life and damaged police’s image.