'July warrior' Surovi wronged, entire case against her fabricated: Nahid
Surovi was released from jail last night. After returning home on bail, Nahid, along with leaders and activists of the NCP’s Gazipur metropolitan unit and various wards in Tongi gathered at her residence to congratulate her
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has said that no justice has been ensured for "July warrior" Tahrima Jannat Surovi, claiming that all allegations brought against her in a case are completely fabricated.
While speaking to journalists after visiting Surovi at her residence in the Morqun Tekpara area of Tongi, Gazipur, at around 1am today (6 January), shortly after her release on bail, Nahid said she was sent to jail in a false case.
"We came to Tahrima Jannat Surovi's house and met her family. She was sent to jail in a false case. You all know that her age was concealed to secure remand approval. Later, people raised strong protests on social media and among the July Uprising supporters. Alongside this, efforts by NCP leaders in Gazipur and lawyers led to the cancellation of her remand and her release on bail," Nahid told the media.
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"Our position is that even if Surovi had committed any wrongdoing, she was entitled to justice as a citizen of this country. She did not receive that justice. We later came to know that the entire incident was fabricated," he added.
At one point in his statement, Nahid criticised the role of certain media outlets. "Some media houses are trying to assassinate the character of faces associated with the July Uprising. The incident involving Tahrima Jannat is part of that ongoing attempt."
He said some outlets publish reports about July Uprising leaders without verifying facts.
"Ahead of the election, a planned conspiracy is underway to spread propaganda against the July leaders. The people of this country know who engaged in extortion and land grabbing after 5 August. To cover that up, efforts are being made to falsely blame those involved in the July Uprising," he said.
Nahid continued, "We are not seeking any extra privilege; we are only demanding justice. We urge the administration not to take a biased position against any individual for taking part in the mass uprising."
According to available information, two cases were recorded at Kaliakair Police Station on 26 November - one filed by Naimur Rahman Durjoy (Case No 38), in which Surovi and three others were named as accused, and another filed by Surovi's mother, Mosa Shamitul Akhtar (Case No 40), naming Durjoy as the sole accused.
Surovi's lawyer, Gazipur Bar Association General Secretary Mostafizur Rahman Kamal, alleged that in the case filed under Section 10 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, Surovi's mother stated her daughter's age as 17.
He pointed out that although both cases were filed on the same day at the same police station, Surovi's age was mentioned as 21 in Durjoy's case and 17 in the case filed by her mother. Both cases were assigned to the same investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Omar Faruq of Kaliakair Police Station, meaning the officer was aware of the age discrepancy from the outset, he noted.
"Despite this, nearly a month later, police arrested Surovi in the case filed by Naimur Rahman Durjoy, even though she was under 18. No action was taken in the case filed by her mother," Kamal said.
He further alleged that Surovi, despite being a minor, was arrested during a late-night raid at her home and sent to jail.
"At the time of producing her before the court, police did not provide accurate information about her age. Even in the remand application, her age was stated as 21, which we believe was deliberate," he said.
He added that based on these allegations, the court has issued a show-cause notice to the investigating officer. "We hope justice will be ensured," he said.
According to the case details, Surovi was arrested by security forces at her residence in Tongi late at night on 25 December and sent to jail through a court order.
Yesterday morning, police produced her before the court and sought five days' remand, of which the court granted two days.
Following the development, students, workers, leaders, and activists of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti staged protests on the court premises.
Later, after lawyers filed a revision petition, Additional District and Sessions Judge-1 Amit Kumar Dey cancelled the remand and granted Surovi four weeks' bail in the evening.
Surovi was released from jail later that night. After returning home on bail, leaders and activists of the NCP's Gazipur metropolitan unit and various wards in Tongi gathered at her residence to congratulate her.
