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Dhaka, Bangladesh – Prominent Bangladeshi actress Nusrat Faria was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on May 18, 2025, while attempting to board a flight to Thailand, in what observers describe as a politically motivated move targeting figures associated with the ousted Awami League government. The detention, tied to an “attempt to murder” case filed on April 29, 2025, at Vatara Police Station, is part of a broader crackdown on artists and cultural figures under Bangladesh’s interim government, raising alarms about freedom of expression and the country’s deteriorating law and order situation.

Nusrat Faria’s Arrest and Political Context

Faria, celebrated for her role as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the 2023 government-backed biopic Mujib: The Making of a Nation, was apprehended by immigration police and transferred to local authorities. The charges against her relate to alleged violence during the July–August 2024 uprising, which culminated in Hasina’s ousting and claimed up to 1,400 lives, largely at the hands of security forces. No public evidence, such as details of the victim or incident, has been disclosed, leading to widespread speculation that the case is a pretext to punish Faria for her portrayal of Hasina, a figure whose legacy is under intense scrutiny.

Posts on social media reflect public sentiment that Faria’s detention is retribution for her role in the biopic, with one user stating, “She was detained because she acted as Sheikh Hasina.” The Awami League, banned on May 10, 2025, under the Anti-Terrorism Act for its role in the uprising’s violence, has been labeled a “terrorist organization,” and its supporters, including cultural figures, face legal and social backlash. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and backed by the military, National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami affiliates, is accused of selectively targeting Awami League allies while granting leniency to groups with troubling histories.

Notably, Jamaat-e-Islami, implicated in the 1971 genocide during Bangladesh’s Liberation War, had its ban lifted in August 2024, citing insufficient evidence. Similarly, Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a designated terrorist organization linked to Al-Qaeda, has seen its leader, Jasimuddin Rahmani, released on parole and leading anti-Awami League rallies in Dhaka as recently as May 2025. These inconsistencies fuel accusations of political bias in the interim government’s approach to justice.

Crackdown on Artists and Cultural Figures

Faria’s detention is one of several high-profile cases targeting Bangladesh’s artistic and cultural community, particularly those perceived as Awami League supporters or linked to Hasina’s cultural projects. Since Hasina’s ousting in August 2024, actors, singers, and journalists have faced arrests, violence, and harassment, creating a climate of fear that stifles creative expression. Key cases include:

• Momtaz Begum: On May 12, 2025, folk singer and former Awami League MP Momtaz Begum, known as the “Music Queen,” was arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch in Dhanmondi. She faces charges in a murder case filed on November 17, 2024, at Mirpur Model Police Station, accusing her and 242 others, including Hasina, of killing hawker Md Sagar during the July 2024 uprising. Sagar was shot in the chest at Mirpur-10 roundabout, and his mother, Beauty Akhtar, named Momtaz as suspect No. 49. A Dhaka court placed Momtaz on a four-day remand on May 13, 2025, and sent her to jail on May 17 after rejecting bail. Her bank accounts were frozen by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, and she faces multiple cases in Manikganj. Critics argue her arrest is politically motivated, targeting her Awami League ties rather than evidence of guilt.
• Meher Afroz Shaon: On February 6, 2025, actress and National Film Award-winning singer Meher Afroz Shaon was arrested in Dhaka on charges of “conspiring against the state.” Shaon, daughter of Awami League leader Engineer Mohammad Ali, had her family home in Jamalpur torched hours before her detention. Her critical social media posts against the interim government’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, are believed to have triggered the sedition charges.
• Sohana Saba: Hours after Shaon’s arrest, actress Sohana Saba was detained by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch for questioning. A known Hasina supporter during the 2024 anti-quota protests, Saba faces unspecified charges, likely related to “anti-state conspiracy.”
• Rokeya Prachi: On August 15, 2024, renowned Bangladeshi actress Rokeya Prachi was attacked by a violent mob while heading to pay tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his historic Dhanmondi 32 residence in Dhaka on his martyrdom day. The mob, allegedly comprising BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters, tore down posters, physically assaulted Prachi, and threatened her life, forcing her to go underground fearing further violence. Prachi described the attack as part of a broader wave of violence targeting Awami League supporters and Hindus, comparing the situation to the 1971 Liberation War. She expressed concerns about escalating communal attacks, the erasure of Bangladesh’s secular history.
• Siddikur Rahman: On April 30, 2025, a Dhaka court placed actor Siddiqur Rahman Siddique on a seven-day remand in an attempted murder case linked to the July 2024 uprising, following his assault by a group of youths on Bailey Road who accused him of ties to the Awami League and handed him over to police. The case, filed by victim Jabber Ali Howlader on November 28, 2024, and registered as an FIR by Gulshan police on December 11, alleges Siddique’s involvement in a shooting incident in Shahjadpur. A viral video showed Siddique with torn clothing and bruises after the attack, which was allegedly led by Chhatra Dal activists from Habibullah Bahar College. Police sought a 10-day remand to interrogate Siddique about the culprits behind the shooting, but the court granted seven days. Siddique, who sought an Awami League nomination for the Dhaka-17 by-election in 2023, is among several artists targeted in what critics call a politically motivated crackdown.
• Shomi Kaiser: In November 2024, actress Shomi Kaiser, a former e-Commerce Association president and Awami League supporter, was arrested on charges of attempted murder related to the 2024 uprising. The daughter of novelist Shahidullah Kaiser and former MP Panna Kaiser, her case lacks transparent evidence, raising due process concerns.
• Journalists: Beyond artists, journalists like Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, formerly of Ekattor TV, were detained in August 2024 on murder charges linked to their reporting, facing solitary confinement and restricted legal access. The Coalition for Women in Journalism condemned these arrests as part of a broader media crackdown.

Cultural events have also been disrupted. The Dhaka Mahanagar Natya Utsav and Basanta Utsav festivals were canceled in February 2025 due to protests by vigilante groups like Tawhidi Janata, who oppose secular or Awami League-associated activities. An artist in Barisal faced online harassment for her interfaith relationship, forcing her to delete her social media accounts.

Law and Order Situation and Political Unrest

Bangladesh’s law and order framework has significantly weakened since Hasina’s ousting. The interim government’s “Operation Devil Hunt,” launched to curb unrest, has arrested over 1,300 people but is criticized as a purge targeting Awami League supporters and dissenters. On February 5, 2025, mobs torched the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father and Bangladesh’s founding leader, and attacked properties of Awami League leaders like Obaidul Quader and Sheikh Selim. Security lapses, such as delayed fire service responses, suggest either incapacity or tacit tolerance of anti-Hasina violence.

The unrest was sparked by Hasina’s virtual address on February 5, 2025, urging supporters to protest the interim government, which she accused of seizing power unconstitutionally. Protesters, including students and Jamaat-e-Islami affiliates, have demanded Hasina’s execution and the erasure of “Mujibism,” defacing Mujibur Rahman’s murals and busts across nearly two dozen districts. The BNP, led by Khaleda Zia, has urged the government to curb “mob culture,” warning of a potential return of “fascist” forces.

The interim government’s selective enforcement is stark. While Awami League supporters face arrests and bans, Jamaat-e-Islami and ABT operate with impunity. Intelligence reports highlight ABT’s collaboration with Lashkar-e-Taiba and its infiltration into India’s northeastern states, posing regional security risks. India, a former Hasina ally, has expressed concern over the Awami League ban and anti-India policies, fearing a destabilized neighbor.

Press freedom is under severe strain. The dismissal of three journalists—Mizanur Rahman, Fazle Rabbi, and Rafiqul Bashar—on April 29, 2025, after questioning Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, has deepened media self-censorship. A report by the Indian rights group RRAG claims 640 journalists were targeted in eight months under the interim government.

Political Motivations and International Concerns

Analysts argue that the interim government is leveraging legal mechanisms to silence dissent and dismantle the Awami League’s influence ahead of anticipated elections. The targeting of artists like Faria, Momtaz, and Meher Afroz Shaon, often on vague or unsubstantiated charges, suggests a campaign to erase Hasina’s cultural legacy, exemplified by projects like Mujib. The interim government’s alignment with Jamaat-e-Islami and tolerance of ABT indicate a strategic reliance on Islamist and anti-Hasina forces to maintain power, at the cost of secular and democratic principles.

The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists have called for transparency and due process in cases like Faria’s and Shaon’s. The UN’s February 2025 report labeled the 2024 uprising’s deaths a potential “crime against humanity,” urging accountability, but noted challenges due to entrenched officials from Hasina’s regime.

Conclusion

Nusrat Faria’s detention, alongside the arrests of Momtaz Begum, Siddikur Rahman, Meher Afroz Shaon, and others, underscores a troubling crackdown on Bangladesh’s cultural and media sectors. The lack of evidence in these cases and the interim government’s selective targeting of Awami League supporters point to political motivations aimed at erasing Hasina’s legacy. As Bangladesh grapples with escalating political unrest, mob violence, and a faltering law and order framework, the suppression of artists and journalists threatens the nation’s democratic fabric and cultural vibrancy. The international community continues to press the Yunus-led government to uphold freedom of expression and ensure justice for all.