A Dhaka court on Thursday issued a travel ban on former deputy commissioner Najmul Islam of counter terrorism and transnational crime unit, actress Meher Afroz Shaon and 10 others in a case filed by Shaon’s stepmother Nishi Islam.

Judge Md Sanaullah of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Court issued the order and set 1 July for the next hearing following the petition filed by the plaintiff's lawyer, Md Pintu.

The other accused are former DB Chief Harun of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Shaon's father Engineer Md Ali, Shaon’s Sister Mahin Afroz Shinjan, Senjuti, Sabbir, Subrata Das, Mainul Hossain, Police Inspector Saiful Islam Bhuiyan, Sub-Inspector Shah Alam and Mokhlesur Rahman Milton.

On 13 March, Nishi Islam filed a case of attempted murder and assault at Dhaka’s Metropolitan Magistrate Court, naming 12 people. Arrest warrants were issued on 22 April.

Among the accused, Saiful Islam Bhuiyan and Shah Alam are on bail, while the other accused are absconding. According to Nishi’s complaint, on 21 February 2024, Mohammad Ali married her concealing his previous marriage with a dower of Tk5 million.

The complaint further alleged that on 28 February 2024, Shaon’s sister Shinjan and her husband Sabbir 'threatened' Nishi at her home to keep the marriage a secret. On 4 March, Md Ali invited her to his Gulshan residence but she was forced to leave the house by the accused.

The next day, Shaon and Additional Deputy Commissioner Najmul, along with others, allegedly went to Nishi’s house and forced her to sign a blank paper. When she refused, Shaon allegedly beat up her till she lost consciousness.

Nishi further alleged that on 24 April 2024, DB Inspector Shah Jalal summoned her to his office, where Shaon and the others assaulted her again.

DC Najmul Islam said that it was a false case against him and magistrate issued arrest warrant and later travel ban without investigating the case and it was beyond magistrate’s capacity.

He also said that he acted just as a supervising officer of a fraud case filed against the plaintiff Nishi Islam earlier; thus, Miss Nishi framed him in this false case intentionally. Mr Islam appealed for justice after proper investigation.