Model and actress Meghna Alam, who rose to fame as the winner of Miss Earth Bangladesh 2020, has been placed in custody under charges including an alleged attempt to “undermine interstate relations,” according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Contrary to reports circulating on social media claiming that Meghna was abducted from her home after authorities broke down her door, the DMP has stated that she was “taken into protective custody following proper legal procedures.”
In an official statement released by the DMP’s Public Relations Department on Friday, authorities said Meghna is accused of “jeopardising national security, spreading misinformation about key individuals with the intent to damage diplomatic ties, and conspiring to harm the nation’s economy.”
While the DMP confirmed that Meghna has the right to seek legal recourse, they denied any allegations of abduction.
Social media platforms have since erupted with claims that her arrest is linked to a conflict involving a senior official from a foreign embassy.
On Thursday, 10 April, a Dhaka court ordered Meghna to be held in custody for 30 days under the Special Powers Act of 1974.
The court cited Section 2(F) of the Act, stating that her detention was necessary for maintaining public safety and law and order.
The court order followed a petition from the Detective Branch (DB) of police, who presented Meghna in court around 10:30pm that night. She has since been sent to Kashimpur jail in Gazipur.
The incident gained public attention after Meghna appeared in a live video on Facebook on Wednesday evening, claiming that individuals identifying as police were forcefully entering her home.
The live broadcast, which lasted about 12 minutes, was abruptly cut off and later deleted.
Meghna Alam was crowned Miss Earth Bangladesh in 2020, recognised for her advocacy in environmental sustainability and women’s entrepreneurship, particularly promoting plastic recycling initiatives.
As the legal proceedings unfold, questions remain over the nature of the allegations and the involvement of international stakeholders.