Nasiruddin Mahmud, former president of Uttara Club Limited, and four others were arrested on Monday afternoon following a case filed over his reported attempt to rape and kill actress Pori Moni.
Nasiruddin and the four others were arrested from Uttara area of the capital, DMP's ADC (Media) Iftekhairul Islam told UNB.
“So far five people have been arrested from Uttara Sector-1 in connection with Pari Moni's case,” he said.
The arrestees, apart from Nasiduddin, are Tuhin Siddique Omi, 33, Lipi Akhter, 18, Sumi Akhter, 19, and Najma Amin Snigdha, 24.
Later in the day, Joint Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun or Rashid provided further information to the press regarding the arrests.
“The detective branch of police assisted Savar Model Police Station in arresting Nasiruddin following their request,” he said.
Also read: Pori Moni's plea for justice from PM causes sensation
“At one point of the operation, a detective team arrested Nasiruddin and the four others, including three young women, from an apartment in Uttara Sector-1,” he added.
Besides, 1,000 pieces of Yaba tablets, foreign liquor and beer were seized from the apartment, Harun or Rashid said.
Nasir’s Facebook profile shows that he is currently the chairman of Kunj Developers, former president of Uttara Club, former district chairman of Lions Clubs International, a former footballer of the Dhaka first division and former elected general secretary of SM Hall of Dhaka University.
Earlier in the morning, Dhallywood star Pori Moni filed a sexual assault complaint against six people, including Nasiruddin Mahmud with Savar Model Police Station.
Pori Moni, in her verified Facebook page, uploaded a status seeking justice from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, claiming that the six people attempted to rape and kill her.
The popular actress, whose real name is Shamsun Nahar Smriti, addressed the post to the Prime Minister, stating that she is seeking justice as a loyal citizen of the country.
"I’ve been physically assaulted and they even attempted to rape and kill me. I want justice. I’ve asked for help from so many people. However, they just heard what I said and commented that they'll 'look into it' while the fact is that no one has helped me yet," Pori Moni stated in her post.
She has mentioned that she tried to contact the local police station and even IGP Benazir Ahmed, but she was yet to receive any formal help regarding her complaint. "I haven't found justice in the last three or four days. Where can I find justice? I’m a woman and an actress, but first of all I’m a human being. I can’t remain silent over what happened to me today," she added.
In her post, Pori Moni then addressed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as her "mother", writing: "I was about 2 and a half years’ old when my mother died. Today, I need a mother more than ever. I’ve never seen you, accepting any injustice quietly. I need you; I need your help to stay alive. Please save me, mother."
Also read: Pori Moni files sexual assault complaint against Uttara Club’s ex-president Nasiruddin, 5 others
Pori Moni’s press conference
Pori Moni revealed the name and details of her assaulters through a press conference at her Gulshan residence in the capital on Sunday night.
The press conference took place after the actress surprised the nation through a status from her verified Facebook page on Sunday evening.
Breaking into tears at the press conference, Pori Moni described what exactly happened to her, sharing the graphic details of the incident and revealed who tried to rape her.
Sitting beside noted director Chayanika Chowdhury, Pori Moni said at the press conference that Nasiruddin Mahmud, a businessman and currently appointed entertainment and cultural affairs secretary of Dhaka Boat Club, assaulted her at the club in Birulia, Uttara in the capital on Wednesday night.
The actress said she went to the boat club with her costume designer Jimmy and Jimmy’s friend Omi for a professional meeting regarding a movie, where Nasir and another man offered them drinks at that time. She refused the offer stating that she was feeling unwell.
At one point, Nasir ganged up on her at the club and forced her to drink by putting the neck of a bottle into her mouth, beat her up and tried to rape her at the same time, Pori Moni said at the press briefing.
During the assault, she said, Nasir addressed himself as a “friend” of Benazir Ahmed, Inspector General of Bangladesh Police and president of the Dhaka Boat Club.
The actress went on saying that when she was able to get out after two and a half hours, she went straight to the Banani Police Station but the officials refused to hear her words. She stated that she has also contacted Zayed Khan, general secretary of Film Artists Association, and other leaders of the film industry, however, did not get any legal or logistic support.