Dhaka, Nov 14 (UNB) – Former Sonagazi Police Station officer-in-charge Moazzem Hossain entered a plea of‘not guilty’ in a case filed under the Digital Security Act over unlawfully interrogating deceased Feni madrasa student NusratJahan Rafi.

Moazzem pleaded himself not guilty before the Cyber Tribunal Judge Md As-Shams Jaglul Hossain and sought justice while the court fixed November 20 for placing the arguments.

The tribunal recorded statements of 12 witnesses.

The ex-OC was arrested on June 16 from capital’s Shahbagh area and indicted on July 17.

The former OC is accused of unlawfully interrogating Feni madrasa student NusratJahan Rafi and recording it on phone. A video of the incident went viral on the social media, prompting lawyer Sumon to file a case against the policeman on April 15 under the Digital Security Act.

Moazzem had summoned Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa's Principal Sirajuddoula and Nusrat, who accused the teacher of sexually harassing her. The girl’s mother had filed a case with Sonagazi police over her daughter’s harassment.

The former OC interrogated Nusrat in the absence of her lawyer or any other woman and used inappropriate language.

Nusrat was later set on fire on April 6 at an exam centre, reportedly by people loyal to Sirajuddoula. She died on April 10 at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Moazzem was initially withdrawn and later suspended on May 10. A tribunal ordered his arrest on May 27 after investigators found allegations brought against him to be true. 
 

A court here on Thursday fixed December 1 for delivering its verdict in a case over the death of two college students in a road accident on Airport Road in the city on July 29.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Judge ImrulKayes fixed the date after the end of arguments from both sides.

On October 25, 2018, owners of two 'Jabal-e-Noor' buses Shahadat Hossain and Jahangir Alam, drivers Masum Billah and Zobair Sumon and assistants Enayet Hossain and Asad were indicted in the case.

On October 7, in response to a High Court order, owner of Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan paid Tk 5 lakh to each family of the two students who were killed in the road crash.

According to the case statement, the accident took place following the competition of two drivers of the vehicles of 'Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan'.
 
Diya Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim Rajib, first-year students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College, were killed as a bus ploughed through some students in front of Kurmitola General Hospital on Airport Road in the capital.
 
The accident triggered a widespread protest by students, demanding safe roads and seeking justice for their fellows.

The High Court on Thursday observed that the success of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will fade if it fails to debunk the mystery behind the murder of journalist couple Sagar and Runi.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the observation while delivering an order over an appeal filed by an accused of the case seeking cancellation of the case.

“Failure to debunk the mystery behind the murder, identify the offenders or arrest them even after a long time is certainly a matter of sorrow and frustration. The success of technology-enriched elite and skilled force Rab in preventing drugs, arms and militants will be tarnished to some extent if it fails to identify and arrest the offenders and bring them to justice,” the HC said.

The court hopes that Rab will end the investigation into the case at the earliest and find out the criminals and bring them to justice.

“It’s not expected all that a specialised force bears the burden of a failure.” the HC observed.

The court also exempted suspect Md Tanvir Rahman from court appearance until the investigation report is submitted in the case.

Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead at their rented apartment in the city’s West Rajabazar area on February 11, 2012.

Police arrested Tanvir in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014.

A widowed mother of four adults was strangled to death at Boalkhali on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Romija Khatun, 52, daughter of late Hafizur Rahman of Sreepur-Khorondwip union of the upazila. Her husband late Bodiul Alam passed away 26 years ago.

Md Tajuddin, sub-inspector of Boalkhali police station said the dead body was recovered on information from a rented house and was being sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Md Rubel Hossain, Khatun’s son, pointed the finger of blame at her adopted brother Md Alamgir, who was said to be staying at the rented house with her for the last four months. He remains absconding since the incident, drawing even more suspicion.

Police are regarding the case as one of murder based on prima facie evidence, although more details will be available once the autopsy is completed, said Md Helaluddin Faruki, inspector (investigation) of Boalkhali police station.

The High Court has asked the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to bring in its notice through the due process if the government ignores its recommendations over human rights violations.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif and Justice Rajik Al Jalil came up with the order on Monday in a seven-point directive for the commission.

The directives were issued after the final hearing of a writ petition filed over the torture of domestic help Khadiza at Mirpur in the city in 2013. 

After a national daily published a report on the torture incident, Children Charity Foundation sent a letter to the NHRC to take necessary legal steps against the torture on Khadija.

After five years on December 22, 2018, the Children Charity Foundation filed the writ petition challenging the NHRC’s inaction regarding Khadiza's complaints.

On January 9, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain to why the failure of the NHRC to provide an appropriate remedy for incidents of human rights violations should not be declared illegal.

Barrister Abdul Halim appeared for the writ petitioner while Advocate Israt Hasan coordinated him.