Who is Nusraat Faria? Popular actress who played Sheikh Hasina arrested on murder charges
Nusraat Faria, the Bangladeshi actress who rose to national prominence for portraying former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the biographical drama ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation,’ was arrested on Sunday at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. According to multiple Bangladeshi media outlets, Faria was apprehended by immigration police while attempting to board a flight to Thailand.
Her arrest is reportedly linked to a case of attempted murder filed during the anti-government protests in July 2024, which were sparked by student-led movements across Bangladesh. These protests culminated in the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and her subsequent exile to India. Faria is among 17 actors named in the case, which was registered at Vatara Police Station in the capital city of Dhaka.
Arrest and case details
As reported by Prothom Alo, a website of Bangladeshi daily, immigration officers arrested the 31-year-old actress at the airport’s immigration checkpoint based on an arrest warrant. The warrant relates to a criminal case filed in connection with violent incidents during the Anti-discrimination Student Movement protests in July 2024. According to the Dhaka Tribune, a student was allegedly the target of an attempted murder during the protests in Dhaka’s Vatara area, and a case was subsequently filed against 17 actors, including Faria.
Inspector Sujan Haque of Vatara Police Station confirmed her arrest, telling bdnews24.com, "Our team went to the airport to get her based on information from Immigration Police. A few days ago, a court approved an attempted murder case against her. She has been shown arrested in that case."
Another police official, Badda Police Assistant Commissioner Shafiqul Islam, also confirmed the arrest to Prothom Alo. Instead of being held at the police station, Faria was transferred to the custody of the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch for further questioning.
Who is Nusraat Faria?
Before gaining widespread recognition as an actress, Nusraat Faria began her career in the media industry as a radio jockey and television presenter. She later transitioned into modelling, appearing in numerous commercials. Her debut in the Bangladeshi film industry came in 2015 with ‘Aashiqui,’ where she starred opposite Indian actor Ankush Hazra. The romantic drama was a commercial success and marked the beginning of Faria’s acting career.
Following her debut, she featured in several box office hits, including ‘Hero 420’ (2016), ‘Badsha – The Don’ (2016), ‘Premi O Premi’ (2017), and ‘Boss 2: Back to Rule’ (2017). These films helped establish her as a bankable actress in both Bangladesh and the Indian Bengali film markets.
Her most celebrated performance to date came in 2023, when she played Sheikh Hasina in ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation,’ a film that chronicles the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh. The film was a major collaborative production between the governments of Bangladesh and India, directed by the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal, with Arifin Shuvoo portraying Mujibur Rahman.
In an interview with bdnews24.com, Faria had shared her thoughts on playing the historic role, stating, "When I learnt of it, I felt like the luckiest person in my country. Because, no one has ever played her role onscreen before. I don't know if anyone will do it in the future." She added, "I feel that even if I never act again in the future, I have got the opportunity to play this role, which is the ultimate achievement for me."
(With inputs from ANI)