Police ‘worked like magic’ to arrest attempted rape suspects, Pori Moni says

Dhallywood actor Shamsunnahar Smrity, popularly known as Pori Moni, is pleased with the arrests of suspects after she brought charges of attempted rape and murder.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 15 June 2021, 04:19 PM
Updated : 15 June 2021, 05:23 PM

“The police were friendly. They, and Harun sir (Detective Branch joint commissioner) did everything like magic. I never thought the police will help me so fast,” she said after talking to DB officials at their Minto Road office in Dhaka on Tuesday. 

“They (suspects) were arrested within hours (of the filing of the case). I believe I will get justice. I have trust in the police.”

When she raised the allegations against businessmen Nasir Uddin Mahmood, a presidium member of the Jatiya Party, of attacking her at Dhaka Boat Club on Jun 8, Pori Moni also had complained of the police not cooperating with her.

Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed is president of the club that expelled Nasir and another member, Tuhin Siddiqui Omi, after their arrest along with three other women in Uttara on Monday in a case started by the actor against six people.

Pori Moni said officials at Banani Police Station had refused to record her complaint on that night, an allegation the law-enforcers deny.

After she took to the Facebook and spoke at a media briefing, the police moved quickly to record the case and arrest the suspects.

Now she has heaped praise on the police.

“I didn’t speak against the law-enforcing agencies. Everyone helped me a lot. Now please let me have a normal life.”    

“All these (delay in recording case) happened because I could not send my message to the IGP. He was my only hope,” Pori Moni said.

Besides Harunor, she also talked to Additional Commissioner Hafiz Akter and Deputy Commissioner Moshiur Rahman at the DB office.

“I was so shocked! Now I'm touched by the profound love everyone has for me. I can stand up now,” Pori Moni said.  

Film director Chayanika Chowdhury and Pori Moni’s costume designer Jimmy, identified with a single name, accompanied the actress to the DB office.

In the case against Nasir, the actor accused him of forcing her to drink liquor before assaulting and trying to rape her at the club in Birulia near Uttara.

Nasir, however, denied the allegations during his arrest. He said Pori Moni and the people accompanying her assaulted him when he had tried to stop them from taking liquor at the club’s bar.

“Is it believable that I went there to drink or steal? Do you think so?” Pori Moni asked reporters when one of them pointed to Nasir’s denial of the charges.

She expressed frustration over the Film Artists Association General Secretary Zayed Khan’s “non-cooperation” to get her through to Benazir. 

DB Joint Commissioner Harunor said Pori Moni came to thank them.

“We will bring to justice all those involved with the incident.”

The police were granted seven days to grill the five arrestees in custody.