Justice for Nusrat: Rally demands immediate arrest of ex-Sonagazi OC
Speakers at a citizens' rally yesterday demanded judicial probe into police's role over the killing of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
Alleging that former officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Police Station Moazzem Hossain was involved in the killing, they demanded his and others' immediate arrest as well as exemplary punishment.
Students Community against Rape and Sexual Violence arranged the protest rally in front of National Museum.
Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa student and Alim examinee Nusrat lost her battle for life, five days after she was set on fire on April 6 -- an incident that ignited outrage all over the country.
A group of five people poured kerosene on the 18-year-old and set her on fire, allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case against principal of the madrasa, Siraj Ud Doula, over sexual assault.
Siraj has been in jail since Nusrat's mother filed a case accusing him of sexually harassing Nusrat at his office on March 27.
Moazzem Hossain was sued under the Digital Security Act on Monday, on charges of recording a video of Nusrat without her consent and publishing the footage on social media.
Addressing yesterday's rally, platform convener Shibly Hasan said so far local police's “negligence” has been the most talked about issue.
“However, it was not local police's negligence, rather it was involvement [in the incident],” Shibly alleged.
He said despite filing of a case on March 27, police did not take any prompt action. Moreover, police secretly recorded the victim's statement when she went to the police station to complain against the principal.
Later, police released the video clip on social media -- that went viral -- reflecting their involvement, he said, further alleging that OC Moazzem received money from Sonagazi Upazila Awami League President Ruhul Amin over the incident.
Shibly said they would launch a protest rally soon which would march from Dhaka to Sonagazi -- demanding justice for Nusrat.
Prof Mesbah Kamal, of the department of History at Dhaka University, said violence against women has reached such a stage in the country that at present every woman feels threatened.
Oppression of women in the name of religion has been happening over the years, he said.
Involvement of politics made such oppression “indomitable”, he added.
Nashid Kamal, noted cultural personality, said measures should be taken so that women, especially female students, do not have to encounter sexual harassment.
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