Rights orgs condemn rights violations in Meghna Alam's detention ‘under pretext of national security’
On 9 April 2025, while Meghna was doing a live broadcast on Facebook, individuals posing as police officers entered her home, stopped the live session, and detained her. The live video was later deleted.
The Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB), a coalition of 20 human rights and development organisations, has strongly condemned the detention of Miss Earth Bangladesh 2020 winner and actress Meghna Alam under the Special Powers Act (SPA) by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on 10 April 2025.
"Meghna was detained for two days in DB custody on charges of disrupting state security and later sent to jail through the court," the forum said in a statement, signed by 23 prominent rights activists, issued today (13 April).
"On 9 April 2025, while Meghna was doing a live broadcast on Facebook, individuals posing as police officers entered her home, stopped the live session, and detained her. The live video was later deleted.
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"Also, forcibly entering any citizen's home in the dark of night and detaining someone is inconsistent with human rights standards," the statement noted, detailing rights violations during Meghna's detention.
Later, on 10 April 2025, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka ordered Meghna Alam to be sent to jail for 30 days.
Condemning her detention under the Special Powers Act, the forum wrote that according to Section 3(1) of the act, a person can be detained without trial only on the "pretext of protecting 'public safety' or 'law and order'".
"This law is considered by human rights activists and legal scholars as an oppressive law and a tool for human rights violations. International and domestic human rights organisations and human rights activists have been protesting against its misuse for a long time," it adds.
HRFB strongly demanded the repeal of the said oppressive law.
Noting that the use of this law is against Articles 31 (Protection of Rights to Law) and 32 (Right to Life and Liberty) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the HRFB said, "Meghna's arrest is a clear example of the violation of this constitutional right."
The forum called for her immediate release and called for a full and transparent investigation into the allegations against her.
"At the same time, this forum demands the humane and sensitive application of the law and state policies. In addition, we request the concerned authorities to be vigilant so that such incidents do not recur in the future," reads the statement.
Meghna's detention has drawn severe public condemnation, with the High Court today issuing a rule questioning the legality of the detention process.
The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Tamanna Rahman Khalidi issued the rule today (13 April), following a primary hearing of a writ petition filed by Meghna's father.
In its ruling, the court asked why Meghna's arrest without a warrant, her detention without being informed of the reasons, her being held in Detective Branch (DB) custody for more than 24 hours, denial of access to legal counsel, and the detention order by the Metropolitan Magistrate should not be declared illegal.
Earlier on the day, Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul also acknowledged that the process that led to the detention of former Miss Earth Bangladesh and model Meghna Alam was not right.
"There are some allegations against her, and those are under investigation. However, the process of her arrest was not proper. The home ministry will take necessary steps after verification," he said.
