Apratim’s parents file GD over phone harassment, cyberbullying

The parents of slain seventh-grader Ishayat Shahriar Apratim have filed a general diary (GD) with police, alleging that they are being harassed through repeated phone calls and targeted with misinformation on social media.

Apritim’s father, KM Firoz Shahriar, filed the GD with Sadar Dakshin Police Station over the alleged harassment and cyberbullying.

Inspector (Investigation) Rajib Ahmed, who is also the newly appointed investigating officer in Apratim’s murder case, confirmed the matter and said police were looking into the allegations.

Shahriar said several Facebook accounts had been created to circulate misinformation about Apratim and his family.

“At the same time, people are calling both our mobile numbers from different numbers and behaving abusively. Because of this, Apratim’s mother has switched off her mobile phone out of fear. We feel unsafe,” he said.

Apratim’s mother, Dr Nahida Begum, is a teacher at Comilla University.

New officer takes over murder probe

Meanwhile, police have changed the investigating officer in Apratim’s murder case.

Inspector Rajib Ahmed of Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station has been assigned to investigate the case, replacing Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam.

Cumilla Additional Superintendent of Police (Media) Md Lutfor Rahman said the change was made considering the importance of the case.

Rajib Ahmed said he had received the appointment order from the superintendent of police’s office and would begin the investigation after receiving the case documents.

He said he would seek to complete the probe quickly and submit the charge sheet to the court.

At a press conference on 22 September, Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman said he wanted a speedy trial in the murder case and intended to submit the charge sheet quickly.

Apratim, the only child of Comilla University Bangla Department Associate Professor Dr Nahida Begum, went missing on 18 September after leaving home with his mother’s iPhone to take photographs.

His body was recovered the following day from a forest in the Sananda area near the Lalmai hills, adjacent to the university campus.