Bangladeshi actor Meher Afroz Shaon detained for alleged conspiracy against government

Bangladeshi actor

Bangladeshi actor Meher Afroz Shaon has been arrested by the police on charges of sedition. According to reports from local media, the police arrested Shaon in Dhaka on Thursday night, citing conspiracy against the state. Rezaul Karim Mallik, an Additional Police Commissioner from the Detective Branch, confirmed her arrest to the Dhaka Tribune.

Shaon has been accused of sedition, a serious crime involving actions against the country. The police have started questioning her about her involvement. The charges seem to stem from her outspoken criticism of the interim government in Bangladesh, which is led by Muhammad Yunus.

The timing of her arrest was especially tense, as just hours before, Shaon’s family home in Jamalpur was attacked and set on fire. The house, located near the Norundi Railway Station in Jamalpur Sadar Upazila, was burned by local residents and students around 6 pm. The house belonged to her father, Engineer Mohammad Ali, who had previously sought an Awami League nomination in the last national election. Shaon’s mother, Begum Tahura Ali, also served as a member of parliament for two terms, representing a reserved women’s seat. Shaon herself had contested for a reserved parliamentary seat as an Awami League candidate in the previous election.

The attack on Shaon’s family home followed another violent incident in Dhaka. On Wednesday, a mob gathered near the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh and the father of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The crowd, which included bulldozers, attempted to demolish the house, and when they couldn't, they broke down the main gate and set it on fire. The attackers considered the house a symbol of authoritarianism and wanted to erase the traces of Mujibism from the country. They also chanted slogans against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who left Bangladesh for India on August 5 last year following protests against her government.

The political situation in Bangladesh has been unstable since the fall of Hasina’s government. In addition, on the eve of a planned Awami League demonstration, several party members were arrested. The demonstration aimed to block Dhaka and shut down the transport system. The recent events have intensified the political tensions in the country.