Prominent Bangladeshi film actress Shamsunnahar Smriti, widely known by her stage name Pori Moni, arrived at the court premises in Dhaka on Thursday morning to surrender and petition for bail. The legal maneuver follows the issuance of an arrest warrant against her in connection with a high-profile assault, vandalism, and intimidation case. Arriving at approximately 9:30 am at the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, the actress remained inside her personal vehicle surrounded by personal security guards while awaiting the formal opening of court proceedings.
The current legal complication stems from an order passed on 4 November by Senior Judicial Magistrate Mahfuza Rahman. The court rejected a time petition submitted on behalf of Pori Moni and her co-accused costume designer, Junaid Bogdadi Jimmy (also known as Jim), following their failure to appear. Consequently, the court issued arrest warrants against both individuals and scheduled the next hearing for witness testimony on 23 December. Prompted by the warrant, the actress opted to present herself voluntarily before the judiciary to secure legal relief.
Speaking on the proceedings, Pori Moni’s legal counsel, Nilanjana Refat Suravi, stated that her client chose to surrender in full respect of the judicial process. Expressing optimism regarding the outcome, the defence advocate voiced confidence that the court would review the circumstances favourably and grant bail upon hearing the submission.
The legal dispute traces back to July 2022, when businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud, a executive member of the Dhaka Boat Club, filed a complaint in the Dhaka court against Pori Moni and two associates. Following an inquiry by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Inspector Md Monir Hossain submitted a investigation report on 18 March 2024 to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. The report found prima facie evidence supporting the allegations of assault and threats against Pori Moni and Jimmy. However, another named accused, Fatema Tuz Jannat Boni, was cleared of involvement due to insufficient evidence. The trial officially commenced when the court framed charges against the remaining defendants on 26 January 2023.
According to the case statement, the incident occurred on the night of 9 June 2021 at the Dhaka Boat Club in Savar. The complainant alleged that Pori Moni and her companions entered the club after midnight, accessed the second-floor facilities, and consumed alcohol. As Nasir Uddin Mahmud and his colleague Shah Shahidul Alam prepared to depart around 1:15 am, the actress invited them to join her table. The complaint alleges that an altercation escalated when Pori Moni insisted on receiving a bottle of premium Blue Label whisky free of charge to take away.
Upon his refusal, an argument ensued during which Pori Moni allegedly hurled a serving glass and her mobile phone at the complainant, causing injuries to his head and chest. The suit further accuses the actress and her associates of physical assault, verbal abuse, issuing death threats, and damaging club property.
In a parallel legal struggle arising from the same midnight encounter, Pori Moni had previously lodged a case at Savar Police Station alleging attempted rape and murder against Nasir Uddin Mahmud and another individual. That matter remains pending before the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-9 in Dhaka, maintaining a complex web of cross-litigation between both parties.
