Nusraat Faria out on bail

After spending two nights behind bars, actor Nusraat Faria yesterday walked out of jail after securing bail in an attempted murder case tied to last year's July uprising.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman passed the bail order around 10:30am after hearing her petition, her lawyer Mohammad Iftekhar Hossain confirmed to The Daily Star.

In the bail order, the judge said the court granted bail as the investigating officer submitted a report confirming that Nusraat Faria was not present in the country during the time of the incident.

According to the report, she was in Canada from July 9 to August 14 last year.

Although the charges in the First Information Report (FIR) are non-bailable, the court observed that without the full police report, it was not possible to determine the precise allegations brought against the accused.

"Under these circumstances, considering all aspects, bail is granted to the accused on a bond of Tk 5,000, under the custody of her appointed lawyer and one local person, until the police report is submitted," the judge noted.

The actress, who was sent to jail on Monday following her arrest, was released from Kashimpur Female Central Jail at 3:28pm, Kawalin Nahar, senior jail superintendent of the Kashimpur Female Central Jail, told the newspaper.

Faria was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday just before boarding a flight.

She was then taken into custody and produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on Monday morning amid tight security.

On March 27 this year, one Enamul Haque -- who suffered bullet injuries on July 19, 2023, during protests in Dhaka's Bhatara area -- filed a case with the court against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 265 others, including Faria and 16 actors.

In line with the court's directive, Bhatara Police Station's officer-in-charge registered the complaint as an FIR on April 29.

After her release, the actor, on her official Facebook page, expressed gratitude to the people for the support.

She also opened up about her physical and emotional ordeal during her 2-day stay in jail.

"I've gone through the most critical time of my life over the past two days. I was mentally shattered. But during this period, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who stood by me. From my colleagues to everyone in the industry, and even the countless ordinary people who spoke on my behalf, stood up for justice, and supported me --- I will remember this support and love for the rest of my life."

"Had you not been there, perhaps I wouldn't have been able to return to you all so soon. I especially want to thank our media professionals --- your support meant the world to me. I will always remember the love you've shown me," the post added.

News of her arrest sparked a strong backlash on social media. Prominent cultural figures --- including directors Ashfaque Nipun and Shihab Shaheen, and actors Azmeri Haque Badhan and Khairul Basar --- condemned her arrest and expressed solidarity with her.

Actors Equity, the professional organisation of performers, also issued a public statement yesterday strongly denouncing the recent wave of arrests and lawsuits targeting artists.

The organisation called for the protection of creative freedom and demanded fair and lawful treatment of individuals working in the cultural sector.