Popular Bangladeshi actress Nusrat Faria, who played Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Mujib: The Making of a Nation, was arrested from Dhaka airport on Monday as she was traveling to Thailand. The arrest has created a shockwave in the entertainment and political fraternity.
Alleged Role in July 2024 Demonstrations
Reports indicate that Faria’s arrest is connected to her suspected participation in the violent protest of the July 2024 movement. The protest had turned unruly, causing injuries, such as an incident where one Inamul Haque was reportedly shot and hospitalized. He subsequently filed a case on May 3, 2025, against 283 people among whom were Nusrat Faria, former PM Sheikh Hasina, and 17 artists.
After her arrest, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nasreen Akhtar directed her to be put into judicial custody. Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury assured that an inquiry is being carried out, and the government will try to ensure an open and fair process.
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Film Industry Registers Strong Criticism
Faria’s arrest caused a huge controversy among the Bangladeshi film industry. Several industry professionals have criticized the act as an attack on artistic freedom. Director Ashfaq Nipun, actress Ajmeri Haq Badhon, and actor Sharaf Ahmed have censured the decision, terming it politically driven and a case of state overreach.
Future of the Actress in Doubt
Nusrat Faria, who attained widespread fame for her performance in Mujib, is now at the eye of a legal and political storm. With her career on the line, everyone is observing anxiously to see the outcome of the case and how it affects artistic freedom in Bangladesh.
