Nusrat Murder: Sonagazi OC suspended for negligence

Former officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Police Station Moazzem Hossain has been suspended over the murder of madrasa student Nusrat Jahan in Feni.

Moazzem was attached to the office of deputy inspector general (Rangpur Range) on Wednesday, said Sohel Rana, assistant inspector general (media and PR) at the police headquarters. 

“Departmental steps against him are underway,” Sohel told The Daily Star.

The PHQ has made the decision under section 12 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 2018.

Moazzem faces charges of violating departmental discipline, tarnishing the image of police and behaving inappropriately, a high official of the PHQ told The Daily Star.

He will not be on any duty and will receive only half of his basic salary.

The officer was withdrawn from the police station and attached to the Armed Police Battalion on April 10 over Nusrat’s death.

On May 1, a committee formed by the PHQ to probe the murder found that the OC and three other policemen, including the police superintendent in Feni, performed their duties negligently. The probe committee included Deputy Inspector General SM Ruhul Amin and Additional SP Mohammad Abu Suffiun of the PHQ.

The committee recommended suspension of OC Moazzem and Sub-inspector Iqbal and transfer of SP SM Jahangir Alam and Sub-inspector Abu Yousuf. It also suggested departmental proceedings against all of them.

The recommendations will be implemented soon, PHQ sources said.

Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, was set ablaze on April 6 allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case filed against the madrasa principal for sexually harassing her. After fighting for her life for five days, Nusrat succumbed to her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A case was filed accusing eight identified people, including the principal, English teacher, and Feni municipality councilor, and four unidentified people. Police Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.

A number of accused, including the principal, have confessed to their involvement in the killing.