‘She was asked indecent, objectionable questions’

Prosecution witness Syed Sayedul Haque Suman yesterday gave his statement before a Dhaka court against Moazzem Hossain, former officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi Police Station, in a case for recording a video of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi and posting the footage on social media.

Supreme Court lawyer Suman, also the complainant of the case, told the court, Sonagazi OC Moazzem Hossain violated laws by recording a video of Nusrat while questioning about her sexual harassment by madrasa principal Siraj Ud Doula, on March 27.

“Later, the video was circulated on YouTube and social media,” he said.

“I saw the video on April 11 at around 9:30am, while I was at the High Court’s Shamsul Haque Chowdhury Hall Room,” he said.

“The video footage shows Moazzem asking Nusrat indecent, embarrassing and objectionable questions. At one stage of questioning, he even disclosed her name and identity,” Suman said.

“When the video footage spread across the country after Nusrat’s death, a social unrest ensued. And a possibility of law and order deterioration arose. So, as a conscious citizen, I filed the case seeking justice,” he added.

During hearing, defense lawyer Faruk Ahmed filed a time petition with the court, which was turned down.

Acting Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal also set August 20 for next hearing of the case.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa of Feni, was set ablaze on April 6 allegedly for  refusing to withdraw a case filed against the madrasa principal Siraj Ud  Doula for sexually harassing her.

After fighting for her life for five days, she died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 10.

The same day, Moazzem was withdrawn from the post of Sonagazi Police Station OC, as Nusrat family’s alleged that they were not getting his full cooperation.

On April 15, Suman filed the case under the Digital Security Act against Moazzem Hossain with the cyber tribunal in Dhaka.

On July 17, the tribunal framed charges against suspended Sonagazi OC Moazzem Hossain in the case.