Dhallywood actress Pari Moni has thanked former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) intelligence chief Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Khairul Islam after he recently spoke about the circumstances surrounding her arrest in 2021. In a lengthy Facebook post published shortly after midnight on Friday, the actress claimed she had been arrested “illegally” and in the interest of a “special quarter”, describing the incident as the most painful chapter of her life.
According to the actress, Khairul Islam’s recent remarks in an online talk show revealed that the operation at her Banani residence on 4 August 2021 ended with her arrest on the instructions of then RAB Director General and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Expressing gratitude to the former RAB official, Pari Moni wrote that the public had finally learned that she had been arrested “unfairly, completely illegally and to serve the interests of a special quarter”. She also alleged that authorities later implicated her in a “false and fabricated” case, placed her on a seven-day remand and kept her in prison for 20 consecutive days.
She said the incident had permanently affected her personal, social and professional life. “From the day of my arrest until today, I have lived as a victim of that incident,” she wrote, adding that the humiliation she endured and the damage to her reputation, dignity and character would remain “a painful chapter” in Bangladesh’s history.
Claiming that state agencies had been used to destroy the life of a female artiste, Pari Moni said she did not seek revenge but wanted truth, justice and humanity to prevail. She also expressed hope that the case filed against her, which she described as “state-manufactured”, would eventually end in her acquittal.
The actress questioned whether the state could ever restore the time, honour and peace of mind she had lost or take responsibility for what she called the false and misleading public perception created about her.
“I never wanted to be known as a controversial person,” she wrote. “I always wanted to live with people’s love as an artiste. But one incident changed my life in a way that I still carry its impact.”
Pari Moni also said she wanted no innocent person to face similar treatment in the future and hoped public confidence in state institutions would be strengthened through justice, the rule of law and accountability.
She thanked her family, friends, colleagues, journalists and fans for supporting her during the difficult period, saying their faith and love had repeatedly given her the strength to rebuild her life.
“I do not want to carry the wounds of the past,” she wrote. “I want to move forward. I want to fly freely like a fairy. I want to spend the rest of my life with my work, my child, my family and the love of my audience. I love living.”
Khairul Islam recently said in an online talk show that he had received a phone call from then RAB chief Abdullah Al-Mamun instructing him to arrest Pari Moni. According to Khairul, when he asked why the actress should be detained, Al-Mamun said there had been allegations that she blackmailed influential people.
Khairul further said Al-Mamun had instructed officers to conduct a forensic examination of Pari Moni’s electronic devices. After officers reported they had found nothing, Khairul said he questioned the need to share the findings with another agency. According to him, Al-Mamun replied that many influential people were calling and some information had to be shared.
Khairul said Pari Moni was later shown as an accused in a narcotics case and sent to court. He added that he was transferred the same evening.
He also claimed that after his transfer he asked Al-Mamun about the operation. According to Khairul, the former RAB chief told him the arrest followed “instructions” because Pari Moni had allegedly been disturbing and blackmailing several people in higher circles and that “something needed to be done”.
RAB arrested Pari Moni during a raid at her Banani residence on 4 August 2021. RAB-1 officer Md Mujibur Rahman later filed a case against her under the Narcotics Control Act, alleging officers had recovered foreign liquor, four grams of crystal meth (Ice) and one LSD blotter from her home. The case is currently at the witness testimony stage before Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-10.
Earlier, on 8 June 2021, Pari Moni filed a case accusing businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud and five others of attempting to rape and murder her at the Dhaka Boat Club in Savar. Police submitted a charge sheet against Nasir and two others on 6 September 2022. A Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal later framed charges against the three accused. According to Pari Moni’s lawyer, that case also remains at the witness testimony stage.
Meanwhile, on 18 July 2022, businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud filed a separate complaint against Pari Moni, accusing her of assault and attempted murder. He alleged the actress abused him and threw a glass at him after he refused to provide alcohol free of charge at the Boat Club. That case also remains pending before the court.
