Ex-Sonagazi OC goes into hiding as court issues arrest warrant

Former Sonagazi police station OC Moazzem Hossain went into hiding yesterday after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the Dhaka Cybercrime Tribunal.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Shariful Islam of Rangpur Police Range said he had heard about the arrest warrant issued against him, but no official paper had been sent to them.

A police official of the Rangpur Deputy Inspector General’s Office, requesting anonymity, said Moazzem had been seen in Rangpur two days ago.

Altaf Hossain, spokesperson of Rangpur Metropolitan Police’smedia wing, said they had not received any paper related to Moazzem's arrest. As a result, they did not do anything.

The Dhaka Cybercrime Tribunal issued the arrest warrant against Moazzem for spreading a video of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi on social media.

Earlier on Sunday, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted a probe report before the court where the charges against Moazzem were found to be true.

According to the case details, Nusrat went to Sonagazi Model police station to file a case against Sonagazi Islamia Fazil (Degree) Madrasa Principal Sirajuddaula on March 27 for sexually assaulting her the day before.

Moazzem recorded a video of her statement without her consent, while asking her offensive and insulting questions. The video then emerged on various social media platforms. It was alleged that Moazzem had put up the video.

Moazzem, whose voice was heard in the video, had also appeared unconcerned about Nusrat’s complaints and said the sexual assault was not a major incident. He also asked Nusrat to go home, and assured her of taking steps in accordance with her written complaint. However, no action was taken against Sirajuddaula.

Nusrat, 18, who was an Alim examinee,was set on fireby Sirajuddaula’s followers on April 6 for refusing to withdraw the rape attempt case her family had filed against him. She died from the injuries four days later.

On April 10, Moazzem was withdrawn from his post as OC and transferred to the Armed Police Battalion, after Nusrat’s family alleged that he had not been cooperating with them.

On April 11, Barrister Sumon saw the video on social media, which prompted him to a the petition against Moazzem for breaking the law.