Faria’s Fallout Fuels Facebook Frenzy
Popular Bangladeshi actress, model, and television host Nusraat Faria was sent to jail on Monday, May 19, by a Dhaka court following her arrest in connection with an attempted murder case. However, at 1:10 PM the same day, her verified Facebook page published a family photo with the caption, “Please pray for my family,” which quickly went viral and sparked a flurry of online reactions.
Many social media users questioned how she could post from behind bars, speculating whether her account had been hacked. Others reacted with sarcasm or support. One user wrote, “Well, now she’ll get to stay with Uncle Palak,” while another commented reassuringly, “No worries, you’ll get bail next week.”
Approximately an hour later, an admin post appeared on Faria’s timeline showing a photo reportedly from Kaler Kantho, claiming that she had been outside Bangladesh from July 9 to July 13 of the previous year. The post, however, did not include a link to the original source.
A review of her profile shows consistent support for student protests during the time she was allegedly involved in the attempted murder—from July 16 to August 5, 2024. On July 16, Faria performed at a concert in Calgary, Canada, where she sang her own songs. Her social media timeline reveals ongoing posts in support of the movement from July 17 to August 7.
On July 18, Faria posted a photo from a symbolic funeral prayer and protest rally held by students, writing, “There’s nothing more depressing than this.” She continued sharing related photos in solidarity.
During this period, Bangladesh experienced a complete internet blackout. The government shut down 4G services from midnight on July 17 and later suspended broadband services on July 18. Although broadband was restored on July 23, mobile internet remained offline. Despite this, Faria remained active on Facebook, which close associates say was possible because she was abroad at the time.
In a July 19 post, she expressed helplessness: “It’s been 2 days—no internet in Bangladesh. The country is completely cut off from the rest of the world. Can’t we just talk and solve this? Why is that so hard? Feeling helpless.”
On July 23, she posted again, writing, “It’s been 6 days since I last spoke to my parents. Many of you know my father’s health isn’t good. But I feel for my fellow students. Wishing for everyone’s safety and peace in the country.”
On August 3, Faria shared a photo showing solidarity with students gathered at the National Martyrs’ Memorial, where protestors called for the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and demanded a new political framework.
Evidence of her overseas stay has emerged through travel documents showing a flight from Dhaka to Dubai and then to Canada on July 9, with a return ticket dated August 14, 2024.
The political fallout escalated further when Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator for the National Citizen Party (NCP) in the southern region, criticized the arrest via his verified Facebook profile. He wrote: “Are you trying to prove justice by arresting Nusraat Faria in a murder case while letting 626 people walk free? This isn’t justice—this is a diversion tactic in Hasina’s style.”
Cultural advisor and renowned filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki also called the arrest “embarrassing.” In a Facebook post, he said, “I usually avoid commenting outside my ministry’s jurisdiction. But I belong to this industry and will return to it. Nusraat Faria’s arrest is an unfortunate embarrassment for us.”
Another prominent filmmaker, Ashfaque Nipun, criticized the action as a distraction from real accountability: “This is how soft targets are picked to dilute cases against real criminals. Arresting Nusraat Faria—who wasn’t even in the country during the incident—under an attempted murder charge is sadly indicative of that pattern. We wanted a fair trial for the July massacre, not a farce. Stop letting known offenders escape while launching sweeping ghost cases.”
The controversy has triggered a storm of debate on social media, with fans and fellow professionals calling for justice and transparency.
Nusraat Faria was arrested earlier on Monday at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport as she was preparing to leave the country. The case was filed at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court by a man named Enamul Haque, implicating 283 known individuals linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration, along with 300–400 unnamed persons. Faria was accused of financing activities against the anti-discrimination movement in support of the Awami League.
