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Published : 21 Apr 2025, 10:47 PM
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has asked for the bank account details of Meghna Alam, the former Miss Earth Bangladesh who is currently behind bars for fraud.
The agency sent letters to all banks for the information, a bank’s deputy managing director told bdnews24.com on Sunday.
Meghna, a model and chairperson of the Miss Bangladesh Foundation, won the Miss Earth Bangladesh title on Oct 5, 2020. She was detained from a house in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area on Apr 9.
Shortly before her arrest, she went live on Facebook, claiming that “individuals identifying themselves as police” were attempting to break into her home. The livestream ended shortly after her arrest.
The next day, she was produced before a magistrate court in Dhaka, where the judge ordered her detention for 30 days under the Special Powers Act.
Amid criticism surrounding Meghna’s arrest, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch chief Rezaul Karim Mallick was removed from his position on Apr 12.
The High Court later issued a rule asking why Meghna’s detention under the Special Powers Act should not be declared illegal and why she should not be released.
The court also questioned why the manner in which she was picked up from her home should not be considered unconstitutional and a violation of fundamental human rights.
Amid ongoing discussions, a case was filed against Meghna at Dhanmondi Police Station, for “honey-trapping”. Dewan Samir, owner of manpower export company Sanjana International, was also accused in the case.
On Apr 17, both were shown arrested in connection with the case and brought before the court.
During the hearing, Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi said, “The accused devised an elaborate scheme to trap foreign nationals, including ambassadors and embassy staff, and extort large sums of money. They have been involved in such fraudulent activities for a long time.
“Most recently, they allegedly attempted to frame the Saudi Ambassador Essa (Yousef Essa Al Duhailan) and demanded $5 million from him.”
On the other hand, during her hearing, Meghna said: “I’ve been sent to jail without trial. I was told I wouldn’t be allowed a lawyer. The only issue is my relationship with Ambassador Essa, nothing else.”
She claimed to be married to the ambassador, who has falsely accused her of terminating a pregnancy.
“I spoke to him about this and urged him not to spread misinformation. I also discussed the matter with Director ‘Shafiqul’ of the foreign ministry. Right after that, I was arrested by the police,” she added.
