Nusraat’s arrest should alarm anyone who believes in rule of law: Bergman

British investigative journalist David Bergman early on Monday condemned the detention of Bangladeshi actress Nusraat Faria as a "deeply troubling moment" for Bangladesh.

Bergman wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the arrest of Nusraat—who played former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a movie—marks a point where individuals with links to Awami League can no longer feel safe in Bangladesh.

Nusraat was detained by immigration police from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while trying to leave for Thailand on Sunday, reports UNB. 

She was then arrested by Bhatara police and later transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) for interrogation.

She was sent to jail on Monday morning after being produced before a Dhaka court in connection with an attempted murder case, the news agency adds. 

"It now appears that simply being a known supporter of the Awami League, or having close associations with the party, is enough to make one a target. We have I think reached the point where such individuals can no longer feel safe in Bangladesh—where arbitrary arrest on baseless charges becomes a legitimate fear.

"It has taken just nine months to reach this dangerous threshold - though some could quite legitimately argue that we reached this place quite some time ago," Bergman, who has written for Bangladeshi newspapers, wrote on X hours after Nusraat's detention.

The suit, filed on April 29, accuses Nusraat and 16 others—including actors and AL members—of attempted murder during an anti-discrimination protest in the Bhatara area. Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and over 280 others were also named in the case, according to UNB.

Faria was reportedly accused of sponsoring the Awami League, which the complainant stated had opposed the protest movement.

Bergman went on to write: "How did things come to this? (a) The interim government appears to be struggling with its political and moral bearings; (b) The country's nascent civil society appears to be not bothered about due process and justice—more interested in revenge and settling scores; (c) And no major political force is left to champion basic human rights," he wrote.

"This is not justice for the July/August murders.  It is retribution dressed up as accountability. And it should alarm anyone who believes in the rule of law—no matter where they stand politically."

David Bergman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who covered Bangladesh's Liberation War and contributed to international news organisations such as The Guardian and Al Jazeera, has spoken out for decades against human rights abuses in the country. 

Nusraat, a former radio jockey turned actress, is among Dhallywood's leading stars, having acted in nearly 20 films in Bangladesh and India. 

The court has set May 22 for the hearing of her bail application.