Legal notice asks Porimoni to apologise over harassment of journalists and insult to national anthem

A legal notice has been sent to the president and the general secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artistes Association, seeking action against actress Porimoni over the harassment of journalists and the insult to the national anthem. The notice also asks Porimoni to apologise.

Supreme Court lawyer Khandaker Hasan Shahriar sent the notice. It states that if no action is taken against her within seven days, appropriate legal steps will be taken.

The notice asks film actress Porimoni to tender a written, unconditional apology within the next seven days for the incident that took place on the court premises. It also asks her to completely refrain in future from all kinds of obscene words or dialogue, threats, obscene acting, obscene gestures, and obscene nude or semi-nude dance, whether recorded and shown through film, video, audio-visual, still image, graphics or any other means, and which has no artistic or educational value.

It may be mentioned that Porimoni surrendered in court on 5 November and secured bail after an arrest warrant was issued in a case filed by Nasir Uddin Mahmud, a director of the Boat Club in Savar, Dhaka, on charges of assault, attempted murder, vandalism and intimidation.

On that day, the actress arrived at the court in the morning with ten security guards. When she reached the court premises, her guards began pushing lawyers, journalists and litigants who were standing near her car, and at one point they beat up several of them. One litigant suffered a split on the head.

Journalists who had gone to cover the event were also pushed and beaten by the guards. Among them, Jagonews24 staff reporter Ashikuzzaman and multimedia reporter Abdullah Al Kawsar were injured in the beating by Porimoni's security guards.

Ashikuzzaman suffered serious injuries to his back, while Kawsar was hurt on his shoulder and hand. An attempt was also made to snatch Ashikuzzaman's mobile phone. The two injured journalists were later taken to the emergency department of Dhaka National Medical College Hospital, adjacent to the court.

Siam Hossain, a reporter of Agami Somoy, said Porimoni abused him, scratched his hand and tried to snatch his phone. Her security guards also manhandled him.

Rabiul Hossain, a reporter of Samakal, also alleged that Porimoni snatched his mobile phone.

After the incident, angry journalists complained to the court police, but media workers allege that no effective action was taken. Dhaka district court inspector Kamal Uddin and several court police personnel were present at the scene, but journalists have raised questions about their role.