Dhallywood actor Mahiya Mahi walked out of jail on Saturday evening, just a few hours after being sent to prison in two cases.
She was released around 7:50pm after securing bail in both cases, Superintendent of Gazipur District Jail Anwarul Karim told Dhaka Tribune.
Advocate Anwar Sadat, who stood for Mahi in the bail hearing, said the actor returned to Bangladesh when she heard about the cases. “She came back as she respects the law, and would have gone to court to get bail.”
“But she was arrested from the airport by the Detective Branch of GMP. Later, when she was brought to the Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court-5 at around 1:30 pm, the judge of the court ordered that she be sent to jail immediately in the interest of security,” he added.
The lawyer also noted that the court had to be told that Mahiya Mahi is a renowned actor in Bangladesh and nine months pregnant during the hearing of the bail petition.
After coming out of jail, Mahi was greeted by her fans, who had gathered outside the prison, with flowers.
The actor did not talk to anyone, but waved at her fans in a gesture of love.
The court of Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Md Iqbal Hossain granted Mahi bail following the Dhallywood actor's arrest earlier in the day. The same court had sent her to jail.
Advocate Anwar Sadat, Advocate Ripon Chandra Sarkar and Advocate Nabijul Islam stood for Mahi during the bail hearing.
The GMP arrested Mahi at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 11:45am Saturday, Deputy Police Commissioner Abu Torab Md Shamsur Rahman said.
The actor had been in Saudi Arabia with her husband, Rakib Sarker, to perform Umrah, the police officer added.
Rakib, who is joint general secretary of the Awami League's Bason unit in Gazipur, did not return home with Mahi.
A GMP team had been positioned at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport since dawn as the unit had learnt that the actor was returning home from Saudi Arabia, GMP Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner Ibrahim Hossain said.
The two cases were filed against Mahiya Mahi and Rakib Sarker with Gazipur's Bason police station on charges of land grabbing and tarnishing the image of the police.
Rokon Miah, sub-inspector at Bason police station, filed one case on Friday night under the Digital Security Act (DSA), accusing the couple of impairing the law-and-order situation by spreading fabricated information with the intention of defamation.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam said Mahi had accused the GMP of taking “bribes” on Facebook.
Another case was filed by Ismail Hossain, a resident of Dighirchala area, who accused the couple of land-grabbing.
Film Artistes' Association calls for ensuring Mahi's wellbeing
The Film Artistes' Association has urged the authorities to ensure Mahi's wellbeing, as she is eight-months pregnant.
However, the association cannot do much to assist Mahi as the cases are a legal matter, Film Artistes' Association General Secretary Nipun said.
Nipun said: “We are not law experts. The law enforcement agencies understand it well. I don't want to talk about it (Mahi's arrest). I only want to talk about my artiste Mahi. Since she has been sent to jail, she should be given proper security.”
Meanwhile. several producers and actors, including Jaya Ahsan, Redwan Roni, Shihab Shaheen, and Ashfaq Nipun, have already condemned the actor's arrest.
Home minister: Mahi arrested on specific charges
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Saturday said Mahi had been arrested on specific charges by the police.
The actor made some statements on Facebook live against Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam, for which reason a case has been filed, the home minister said after attending an event organized at Dhaka's Tejgaon area.
The claim of bribery made by Mahi against the police will be investigated, the minister said.
He further added: “I don't know everything, I have only heard about the matter. Before commenting on it, I need to thoroughly understand the situation.”
GMP: Mahi has no right to make such comments about police department
GMP Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam said that Mahia Mahi had made false allegations on Facebook Live about the police department, GMP and land related issues.
“She also made comments about those in her opponents' camp. She has no right to make comments about a department,” said the GMP commissioner during a press briefing at his office Saturday afternoon.
"The police have filed a case against Mahi under the Digital Security Act. Mahi was arrested at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:45am,” he said.
Mahi also has been sued in another case filed by her rival group and nine other accused have been arrested and sent to court in that case, the GMP commissioner added.
The arrested are Sajjad Hossain Sohag, Ashiqur Rahman, Fahim Hossain Hriday, Jewel Rahman, Jamsher Ali, Mostaq Ahmed, Khalid Saifullah Julhas, Sujan Mondal and Mahbub Hasan Sabbir.
The commissioner said: "Mahi's husband Rakib Sarkar is also accused in three cases of arms, murder and rape. No one testified in those cases. But the facts were true. But now there is an opportunity to re-investigate the cases and for witnesses to testify.”
Besides, various complaints are constantly coming to GMP police against Rakib, the police official said.
A brother of Rakib is involved in extortion in the transport sector and illegal land occupation of Gazipur. In response to the demands of the people of Gazipur, the police have stopped unauthorized and illegal traffic from various highways, according to GMP Commissioner Nazrul Islam.
