Bangladeshi police have arrested model and actress Meghna Alam for allegedly attempting to damage Bangladesh’s diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. The arrest, carried out under the controversial Special Powers Act—which allows detention without trial—has sparked widespread criticism and public outrage.
The incident unfolded when the Detective Branch (DB) of Bangladesh Police raided Alam’s home late Wednesday night while she was livestreaming on Facebook. In the now-deleted 12-minute video, officers were seen entering her residence and identifying themselves before the stream abruptly cut off. Alam, who had been speaking about her relationship with a Saudi diplomat, was taken into custody without formal charges.
Her father, Badrul Alam, later confirmed that the diplomat in question was the Saudi ambassador to Bangladesh. He claimed his daughter had been in a relationship with the ambassador but refused his marriage proposal upon discovering he was already married with children. According to him, Meghna then contacted the diplomat’s wife, after which the ambassador allegedly reached out to Bangladesh’s Home Ministry, leading to her arrest.
The case has drawn sharp backlash, with legal advisor Asif Nazrul admitting that detaining Alam under the Special Powers Act was a mistake. The top DB official overseeing the arrest was subsequently removed from his post. Despite this, a Dhaka court ordered Alam to be jailed for 30 days.
Meghna Alam, 30, is a well-known figure in Bangladesh, having won the title of Miss Earth Bangladesh in 2020. Beyond her modeling and acting career, she is an advocate for climate change, gender equality, and food security. She also chairs the Miss Bangladesh Foundation and serves as the National Director of the Miss Bangladesh Organization.
Police have accused her of making false allegations against “important foreign individuals” with the intent to harm Bangladesh’s diplomatic and financial interests. However, rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned her detention, demanding her immediate release unless charged with a recognizable crime.
The case has also brought attention to Bangladesh’s reliance on Saudi Arabia, which hosts over 2 million Bangladeshi workers and is a key donor of financial and humanitarian aid. Critics argue that Alam’s arrest highlights the misuse of draconian laws to suppress dissent or personal disputes under the guise of national security.
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