A Dhaka court imposed a travel ban on actress and singer Meher Afroz Shaon, former Detective Branch (DB) chief Harun-or-Rashid, and 10 others in connection with an attempted murder and assault case filed by Nishi Islam, Shaon’s stepmother.
On Thursday (May 22) Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sanaullah issued the order following a petition from the complainant. The other accused include former CTTC ADC Nazmul Islam, Shaon’s father Engineer Md. Ali, sisters Mahin Afroz Shinjon and Senjuti, as well as Sabbir, Subrata Das, Mainul Hossain, police inspector Saiful Islam Bhuiyan, sub-inspector Shah Alam, and Mokhlesur Rahman Milton.
Of the accused, Saiful Islam Bhuiyan and Shah Alam are currently out on bail and appeared in court. The remaining 10 are absconding. Arrest warrants had previously been issued against them on April 22. The next hearing is scheduled for July 1.
According to case details, on March 13, 2024, Nishi Islam filed the case at the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court accusing 12 individuals of attempting to murder
and assault her.
The complaint states that on February 21, 2024, Engineer Md. Ali married Nishi Islam with a dower of Tk 5 million, allegedly hiding the fact that he was already married and had one son and three daughters. When Nishi confronted him, he initially evaded the matter but later confessed.
On February 28, Shaon’s sister Shinjon and her husband Sabbir allegedly visited Nishi’s home to threaten her into keeping the marriage secret. Later, on March 4, Md. Ali called Nishi to their Gulshan residence, where she discovered the truth about his prior marriage. During this visit, the other accused allegedly pushed her out of the house.
The complaint also says that on the following day, Shaon, Nazmul, and others tried to force Nishi to sign blank papers. When she refused, Shaon allegedly beat her unconscious.
On April 24, Nishi was summoned to the DB office by Inspector Shah Jalal, where she was allegedly beaten again by Shaon and others in Harun’s presence. Harun then instructed the Badda Police Station officer-in-charge to file a false case against her. Nishi was arrested, placed on remand, and allegedly tortured before being falsely labeled a drug dealer.
