Model and actor Naila Nayem on Saturday claimed she was being harassed by her neighbours and police, after her neighbours complained that she was keeping around 500 cats in a small apartment.
According to the written complaint from Naila’s neighbours, the smell from the large number of cats was making the environment of the building intolerable, Police Senior Assistant Commissioner (Badda zone) Elin Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune.
During a press conference at the Red Orchid Restaurant and Party Centre in Dhaka on Saturday, Naila said the allegations that she had over 500 cats in the apartment are false.
“I currently have only 16 cats at home,” she said.
However, Naila also said she had many cats at the apartment before, but she had given most of them away before the neighbours filed their complaint. She refused to specify how many cats she had been keeping in the apartment.
“I have been treating injured, weak and sick cats gathered from different places in the city for the last 10-12 years, at my own expense,” Naila added.
She also claims the Department of Livestock inspected her apartments in Aftabnagar near TV Bhaban last year and commended her humane treatment of the animals.
When contacted, Department of Livestock Assistant Production Director Mojibor Rahman said the department had not made any official visit to inspect Naila’s cats.
According to Naila, her neighbours are now creating problems for her family, such as by not allowing them to use the lift in the building, over the cat situation.
Furthermore, she said the assistant commissioner of Badda zone had sent policemen to her house to harass her.
Assistant Commissioner of Badda zone Elin Chowdhury confirmed that he had sent police to her house, but he said it was for the purpose of investigating the complaint.
“The policemen behaved respectfully. She did not let them enter the building, but they did not press the issue and went away. Due to her non-cooperation with the investigation, police are yet to file a detailed report on the incident,” the police official added.
Badda police station Officer-in-Charge Md Parvez told Dhaka Tribune that Naila has previously faced similar allegations in Uttara.