A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against popular actress and director Meher Afroz Shaon in a case involving allegations of physical abuse against her father and stepmother. The warrant, issued by the Dhaka Metropolitan 1st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Tuesday (April 22), became public on Wednesday (April 23). The case was filed by Shaon’s stepmother, Nishi Islam, who accused Shaon of physically assaulting her and her father. Alongside Shaon, 11 others, including former DB Chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, have been named as accused in the case. During the hearing, two police officers from Badda Police Station admitted their involvement, stating in court that they had detained and mistreated Nishi Islam on the instructions of the then-officer-in-charge. Since Shaon, Harun, and several other accused failed to appear before the court, the magistrate issued arrest warrants against them. Speaking to the media, Nishi Islam expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision. “We want justice. Shaon used her influence to harass us and physically assaulted us. She has tried to manipulate this case using her power,” she alleged. According to the case details, the dispute began early last year when Shaon’s father, engineer Mohammad Ali, placed a matrimonial ad in a marriage agency, which led to his meeting and eventual marriage with Nishi. Shaon allegedly reacted strongly after learning of the marriage, reportedly subjecting her father to both physical and psychological abuse. It is also alleged that Shaon used her political connections—reportedly linked to the ruling Awami League—to have her stepmother imprisoned for six months. Furthermore, Nishi claims Shaon had her father wrongfully declared mentally unstable and confined him to a mental health facility for several months. She also alleged that some of Shaon’s siblings were complicit in these actions.
June 10, 2025 1:57 am
