Film producer and popular villein of Bangla cinema Monowar Hossain Dipjol has been accused of orchestrating physical assault and “acid attack” on a 35-year-old woman in the Gabtoli area of Dhaka.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Monday ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the allegations and submit a report.
According to the complaint filed by the victim, Rajida Akhter, the incident occurred on 2 June at the Gabtoli cattle market, where Dipjol allegedly became enraged upon seeing her. She claimed that Dipjol’s personal assistant, along with 8 to 10 others, physically assaulted her, dragged her away, and poured acid on her neck.
The victim was admitted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on 4 June and remained under treatment until 11 June. Rajida further alleged that she was threatened when she attempted to approach the court on 12 June. She said Dipjol’s assistant warned her of dire consequences if she proceeded with legal action.
Despite the intimidation, Rajida filed a formal case on 8 July, naming both Dipjol and his aide Md Faisal as key accused. Magistrate Mehnaz Rahman has directed the CID to conduct a thorough investigation and submit findings in the next phase of legal proceedings. The case has drawn attention due to Dipjol’s controversial past, which includes convictions for illegal arms possession, tax evasion, extortion, and amassing illegal wealth.
Dipjol, a prominent figure in the Bangladeshi film industry, was elected General Secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association in 2024. However, his political and criminal entanglements have repeatedly made headlines, and this latest accusation adds to a long list of legal troubles.
The court will now await the CID’s report before determining the next course of action. The charges, if proven, could result in serious criminal penalties under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and other applicable laws.