Court Orders Action Against Officer Over Minor’s Arrest

A Senior Judicial Magistrate in Gazipur has issued a formal directive to initiate departmental proceedings against a police investigator following the controversial arrest and attempted interrogation of a minor. The officer, identified as Omar Farooq, is accused of gross negligence and providing misleading information regarding the age of a young girl, Suravi, who is locally celebrated as a "July Warrior" for her role in the 2024 student-led uprising.

Chronology of the Legal Dispute

The ordeal began on 25 December, when police apprehended Suravi on multiple charges, including allegations of extortion. Despite her juvenile status, she was processed through the adult legal system. On 28 December, a bail petition filed by her family was summarily rejected on the grounds that the charges involved non-bailable offences.

The situation escalated when the investigating officer applied for a five-day remand (police custody for interrogation). Following several delays due to public holidays and the passing of a local advocate, a hearing was eventually held on 5 January. Presiding Judge Syed Fazlul Mahdi initially granted a two-day remand based on the police's presentation of the case.

Table: Timeline of Judicial Proceedings in the Suravi Case

The Turning Point: Age Misrepresentation

The narrative shifted dramatically on the afternoon of 5 January when a birth certificate surfaced on social media, proving Suravi was a minor. This evidence suggested that the investigating officer had either failed to verify or intentionally obscured her age to bypass the protections of the Children Act.

Responding swiftly, Suravi’s counsel, Advocate Rashed Khan, filed a revision petition before the Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court. By the evening, Acting District Judge Amit Kumar De nullified the remand order and granted Suravi four weeks of interim bail. The judge remarked that the investigating officer had displayed extreme negligence in performing state duties.

Administrative Reprimand

On Thursday, 8 January, Judge Syed Fazlul Mahdi formalised the directive for departmental action against Omar Farooq. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kaliakair Police Station, Khandaker Nasir Uddin, confirmed receipt of the order, which has been forwarded to the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Gazipur.

The court’s decision is seen as a significant rebuke of police overreach and a victory for juvenile rights. The copy of the order has been sent to the SP of Gazipur and the Assistant Superintendent of Police (Kaliakair Circle) for immediate implementation.