Model Meghna Alam refused bail in honey trapping case

The model was formally shown arrested on Apr 17 by Dhanmondi Model Police Station

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail petition of model Meghna Alam in a case filed by Dhanmondi Model Police Station, which accuses her of targeting foreign diplomats in a series of romance scams.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Masuma Rahman issued the ruling on Thursday following a hearing.

During the hearing, Meghna’s lawyer argued that no specific allegations have been made against her, claiming the case was intended to besmirch her reputation.

Sub-Inspector Abul Bashar, general recording officer at Dhanmondi Police Station, told bdnews24.com that the prosecution strongly opposed the bail application. After hearing both sides, the magistrate rejected the petition.

Meghna, who serves as the chairperson of the Miss Bangladesh Foundation, was crowned Miss Earth Bangladesh on Oct 5, 2020.

She was taken into custody on Apr 9 from her house in Dhaka’s Bashundhara residential area.

Prior to her arrest, Meghna posted a live video on Facebook, alleging that individuals claiming to be police officers were attempting to break into her home. The livestream ended shortly after her arrest.

She was produced before a Dhaka court the following day, which ordered her to be held in custody for 30 days under the Special Powers Act.

Amid public backlash over her arrest, the Detective Branch chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Rezaul Karim Mallick, was removed from his post on Apr 12.

Later, the High Court issued a rule asking why Meghna’s detention under the Special Powers Act should not be declared unlawful and why she should not be released.

The court also raised concerns over whether the manner of her arrest was unconstitutional, and infringed upon her fundamental rights.

On Apr 17, Meghna was formally shown arrested in the Dhanmondi “honey trap” case.

According to the case files, Meghna, along with her associate Dewan Samir and several unidentified individuals, is alleged to be part of a well-organised fraud group.

The group is accused of using attractive women to entrap foreign diplomats, their representatives, and affluent businessmen in romantic relationships, with the intent to extort money.