“Our focus must remain on identifying real culprits"
The recent arrest of Bangladeshi actress Nusraat Faria has triggered a wave of condemnation from across the country’s entertainment and cultural landscape.
The actress was detained on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka while en route to Thailand.
She was later sent to prison following a court order issued the following day.
Nusraat’s arrest, reportedly linked to an attempted murder case, has stunned the entertainment community.
Many have questioned the motives behind detaining an actress who, they claim, was not politically active and was abroad during the alleged incident.
Filmmaker and Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki called the arrest “awkward and concerning”.
He urged authorities to act with greater care, especially in politically sensitive times.
He questioned the time of her detention, saying:
“Our focus must remain on identifying real culprits behind the July uprising.”
Actress Azmeri Haque Badhan condemned the arrest in a strongly worded statement.
She described the incident as a clear violation of fundamental rights and called it “unacceptable in a society that claims to uphold justice”.
Television actor Khairul Basar echoed similar sentiments, criticising the punishment of an artiste for simply acting in a government-endorsed film.
He questioned: “She hasn’t taken a political stance. Then why this harassment?”
Faria, who starred in Mujib: The Making of a Nation, came under scrutiny for a promotional quote:
“There’s a Hasina in every girl.”
While the quote went viral, many now cite it as a reason for her current troubles.
Rapper Mahmud Hasan Tabib referred to that quote while addressing her arrest.
He questioned how a line spoken during a film promotion could be used to brand someone a criminal.
Director Shihab Shaheen dismissed the case against Faria as “absurd” and “politically motivated harassment”.
Responding to accusations that she supported an authoritarian regime, he said:
“She acted in a film. That doesn’t make her complicit.”
Ashfaque Nipun, another prominent director, criticised the use of legal tools against creative professionals.
He argued that going after “soft targets” like artists only undermines justice and diverts attention from real offenders.
Actors Equity also released a unified statement decrying the trend of legal actions against members of the creative community.
They emphasised that artists have historically played a crucial role in promoting social awareness and humanitarian values.
The statement read:
“Harassing artistes leads to emotional distress, damages their careers, and creates societal disorder.”
It urged the government to act fairly and protect the dignity of those in the artistic profession.
The controversy surrounding Nusraat Faria’s arrest has reignited debates about freedom of expression and artistic independence.
Many fear that targeting artists under legal pretences sets a troubling precedent in Bangladesh’s cultural space.
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