Summary:
- Actress Meher Afroz Shaon and Sohana Saba were detained by Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) in Dhanmondi on Thursday night.
- Both are being interrogated at the DB office, with no formal charges or case details disclosed yet.
- Allegations of anti-state conspiracy have been raised against them, with Shaon linked to political activities and Saba to a controversial WhatsApp group.
- Authorities are still deciding on legal proceedings as investigations continue.
Dhaka police detained actress and musician Meher Afroz Shaan along with fellow actress Sohana Saba for questioning Thursday night in connection with alleged anti-state activities. Both remain in custody at the Detective Branch headquarters as authorities continue investigations into unspecified charges.
Shaan, a National Film Award winner and former Awami League nomination aspirant for Mymensingh’s reserved women’s parliamentary seat, was arrested from Dhanmondi. The daughter of former parliament member Tahura Ali and widow of novelist Humayun Ahmed, she had previously sought political office during the 2024 national elections.
Saba faces scrutiny over her alleged participation in a 2023 WhatsApp group named “Light Will Come” that reportedly opposed student-led anti-discrimination protests. Screenshots leaked in August 2024 sparked public criticism after suggesting discussions about destabilizing the government.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Md. Talebur Rahman confirmed the detentions but declined to specify charges, stating: “The decision regarding their case remains under process.” Detective Branch sources indicate the investigation centers on suspected conspiracy against state interests.
Both women represent prominent cultural figures – Shaan as a mainstream artist with political connections, Saba as part of a younger generation increasingly vocal on social issues. Their simultaneous detention follows months of heightened scrutiny over artists’ political affiliations in Bangladesh.
