Actress Nusraat Faria’s Arrest Links to Sheikh Hasina Purge

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Bangladeshi Actress Nusraat Faria Arrested in Attempted Murder Case: Shocks South Asia Observers

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, May 20, 2025 –Arrest of popular Bangladeshi actress Nusraat Faria, renowned for her portrayal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the 2023 biopic Mujib: The Making of a Nation, has stunned South Asia observers.

The arrest came close on the heels of Muhammed Yunus-led regime in Bangladesh banning Hansina’s Awami League. The actress was arrested on May 18 at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The 31-year-old star was detained by immigration police while allegedly attempting to board a flight to Thailand, following an arrest warrant linked to an attempted murder case stemming from the anti-government protests in July 2024.

According to Dhaka Tribune, Faria was apprehended at the airport’s immigration checkpoint after a court-approved warrant was issued for her alleged involvement in the attempted murder of a student in Dhaka’s Vatara area during the July 2024 protests. These protests, part of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, escalated into violent clashes that culminated in the resignation and exile of Sheikh Hasina.

Inspector Sujan Haque of Vatara Police Station confirmed, “Our team went to the airport to get her based on information from Immigration Police. A few days ago, a court approved an attempted murder case against her.”

Prothom Alo reported that Faria was arrested on Sunday morning and later transferred to the Detective Branch office of Dhaka Metropolitan Police for questioning. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nasrin Akter on Monday ordered Faria to be sent to Kashimpur Women’s Central Jail, with her bail hearing rescheduled for May 22, as per Prothom Alo.

The case, filed against 17 actors and 283 individuals, including Hasina, alleges Faria financially supported the Awami League’s counter-efforts against the student-led movement. The arrest has sparked heated discussions with experts questioning the charges and their implications.

Bangladesh observers noted that “Faria was not even in Bangladesh when the protests were happening”. Sami, a Bangladesh-based researcher, in a post on X said: “Can the interim government explain why actress Nusraat Faria was arrested? Just because she played Sheikh Hasina in the Mujib biopic? This is serious infringement of human rights.” He raised concerns about potential political motivations.

Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhon, a supporter of the 2024 uprising, also condemned the arrest. Director Mostafa Sarwar Farooki echoed this sentiment, calling the arrest “an embarrassing event” in a Prothom Alo report.

Nusraat Faria Mazhar, born on September 8, 1993, began her career as a radio jockey and television presenter before transitioning to modelling and acting. She debuted in the 2015 Bangladesh-India co-production Aashiqui: True Love, opposite Ankush Hazra, which became a commercial hit.

Faria solidified her stardom with films like Hero 420 (2016), Badsha – The Don (2016), Premi O Premi (2017), and Boss 2: Back to Rule (2017), earning a strong fanbase in both Bangladeshi and Indian Bengali cinema.

In 2021, she completed a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of London, showcasing her multifaceted talents. Her most notable role came in 2023, portraying Sheikh Hasina in Mujib: The Making of a Nation, a biographical film about Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Directed by acclaimed Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal, the Indo-Bangladesh co-production featured Arifin Shuvoo as Mujib.

Faria’s portrayal of Hasina, a polarizing figure ousted in 2024, earned critical acclaim but also drew scrutiny amid Bangladesh’s political turmoil. She expressed pride in the role, telling bdnews24.com, “I felt like the luckiest person in my country.”

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