Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has ruled out any negligence on the part of police over the arrest of former OC Feni’s Sonagazi police Moazzaem Hossain, nearly three weeks after the court ordered his arrest.
“There is no negligence from the police. The arrest is being delayed as he (Moazzaem) is on the run. He will be arrested anytime,” he told the media in Dhaka on Saturday (Jun 15).
Moazzem has been on the run after a warrant was out in a case filed overspreading the video of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi, who died after she was set on fire, on social media.
On May 27, a Cyber Tribunal in Dhaka ordered his arrest after the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) filed its probe report in the case.
The PBI probe found Moazzem guilty under sections 26, 29 and 31 of the Digital Security Act for spreading a video of Nusrat’s statement on Facebook.
According to 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—asking her offensive and insulting questions. The video then surfaced on various social media platforms. It was alleged that Moazzem had uploaded the video.
Moazzem, whose voice was audible in the video, appeared unconcerned about Nusrat’s complaints and said the sexual assault was not a major incident. He asked Nusrat to go home and assured her he would take steps in accordance with her written complaint. However, no action was taken against Sirajuddaula.
Nusrat, 18—an Alim examinee—was set on fire by Sirajuddaula’s followers on April 6 for refusing to withdraw the rape attempt case her family had filed against him. She died from her injuries four days later.