Innocent Moina languishes in jail, convict moves freely

This came to happen as drug peddler Kohinoor Begum falsely named Abdul Kader as her husband at the time of arrest on October 10, 2002 although her husband's name is Gani Miah.

Abdul Kader, a rickshaw-puller, is the husband of Moina Begum, who was allegedly implicated in the case and is now in the Jessore jail.

The police arrested Kohinoor at Palpara under Daulatpur thana of Khulna city for possessing heroin and opium. She obtained bail in the case on February 19, 2003.

Investigation officer (IO) of the case Sub-Inspector (SI) Moktar Hossain of Daulatpur Police Station also mentioned Abdul Kader as the husband of Kohinoor in the charge sheet.

The District and Sessions Judge of Khulna sentenced Kohinoor to life imprisonment on May 10, 2004. The court also issued an arrest warrant against her.

The police arrested Moina on May 26 in 2004 in Rail Road area and the IO sent her to Khulna Jail identifying her as Kohinoor Begum.

Moina's husband Abdul Kader alleged that SI Moktar implicated his wife in the case as he refused to pay him a Tk 5,000 bribe.

When asked, SI Moktar, now serving in Tangail, told The Daily Star that he arrested Moina mistaking her for Kohinoor as she had named Abdul Kader as her husband.

The deputy commissioner of Khulna ordered a probe into the incident following a petition filed by Moina claiming innocence. First Class Magistrate Shah Abdul Tarique submitted a report on the investigation on February 27 this year, describing Moina as innocent.

Assistant Police Commissioner (Prosecution) Ashraf Hossain also admitted Moina's innocence, saying, "We have taken a serious view of the injustice done to innocent Moina. The police officers involved in such malpractice will be taken to task."

He expressed his commitment to free Moina from jail and arrest Kohinoor soon.