Home adviser defends Nusraat Faria's arrest

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said questions would be raised if actor Nusraat Faria, an accused in a case, were allowed to leave the country.

"If a case is pending against her, what will you do?" he asked when a journalist inquired about the arrest of Nusraat from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday.

"Had we allowed her to go, you would say, 'Sir, you released her,'" he further said.

The home boss was talking to reporters after a meeting on law and order at the Secretariat.

Jahangir made the comment today though he and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on several occasions said that no innocent persons would be harassed or arrested despite being on the list of accused in the cases filed over the July uprising.

The IGP earlier admitted that many people were falsely implicated in those cases.

On April 28, the IGP, referring to the situation after August 5 last year, said, "Since then, many have filed cases with dishonest intentions to extort money from people or to harass them. Perhaps 5–10 people committed the crime, but cases were filed naming another 300 individuals. Even yesterday, such a case was filed."

Instructions have already been issued to ensure that no one is arrested in a harassing manner. Only those against whom allegations are found to be true during the investigation will be arrested, he added.

A Dhaka court today sent the actor to jail in connection with an attempted murder case linked to the July uprising.

During today's briefing, when a journalist pointed out that many individuals had been stopped and sent back from the airport, the home adviser asked for a specific name.

Upon hearing the name of Sheikh Shaira Sharmin, wife of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Jahangir responded, "Because there are no cases against her."

In response to another question, the home adviser said, "We have repeatedly said that we will ensure no one faces unnecessary harassment or suffering. Legal action will be taken only against those involved in criminal activities. No innocent person will be punished under any circumstances."