Barrister Sayedul Huq Sumon says that if a plaintiff is determined enough, then securing justice is possible even if the accused is powerful. As for OCs who treat their police stations as personal fiefdoms, the case against OC Moazzem should be a warning. Many feel that one cannot win the right verdict if a case is lodged against the police.

Barrister Sumon said this on Thursday (Nov 28), after the verdict was announced against former OC of Sonagazi thana, Moazzem Hossain, in a case lodged under the Information and Technology law.

For recording Nusrat’s statement and then disseminating it without permission, the OC has been sentenced to five years and three years respectively. In addition, the court has ordered Moazzen to pay Tk 800,000 to Nusrat’s family.

Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, he thanked the Prime Minister for her support in the matter and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) for proper investigation.

The Court sentenced the former OC of Sonagazi police station to eight years in prison for recording and then disseminating statements made by madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.

The verdict was declared this afternoon, around 2:45pm by Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain of the Bangladesh Cyber Tribunal. The former police officer was also fined a total of Tk 1 million.

Nusrat’s uncle has expressed satisfaction over the verdict and thanked barrister Sayedul Huq Sumon.

Nusrat was a madrasa student and levelled allegations of sexual abuse against the madrasa principal Siraj ud Doula. Nusrat’s mother lodged a case on Mar 27 and the principal was arrested. At that time, Nusrat’s statement, given to the OC, was recorded and spread on social media. On Apr 6, when Nusrat was giving an exam, she was taken away forcibly from the hall and then set on fire by miscreants. On Apr 10, she succumbed to her injuries at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). The incident shocked the people of Bangladesh.