Bangladeshi journalist Munni Saha found herself at the centre of a dramatic confrontation on a tense Saturday night in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar that led to her detention and eventual release by police. The incident began around 9:30 pm, shortly after Saha, editor of the online portal 'Ek Takar Khobor,' left her office at Janata Tower.
According to reports, a group of locals surrounded Saha as she exited the building. She was mocked by the crowd and also allegedly called an 'Indian Agent.' A video of the incident has gone viral on the internet. The situation quickly escalated, leading concerned onlookers to contact the police.
Saha Detained By Police
Tejgaon Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC), Md Mobarak Hossain, confirmed that officers arrived immediately and took Saha into custody to prevent further unrest.
Despite police intervention, the scene remained charged, with over a hundred people reportedly gathering to demand Saha’s trial as the also has multiple legal cases filed against her.
Saha was transferred from Tejgaon Police Station to the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) office on Minto Road by 10:30 pm. According to a BDNews report quoting police sources, her detention was not an arrest but a protective measure due to the volatile situation.
Munni Saha Released After 4 Hours
Additional Commissioner Rezaul Karim Mallik of the DB clarified the circumstances of her release, which occurred approximately four hours later. “Munni Saha was terrified after being surrounded by the crowd. As she is a woman, we prioritized her safety and took her to Tejgaon Police Station,” Mallik explained. “She was later released under Section 497 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on the condition that she appears before court regarding the cases against her.”
Section 497 of the CrPC grants discretionary power to the police to release individuals on bail for non-bailable offenses under specific conditions. In Saha’s case, this meant she could return home under her family’s care, provided she complied with future court proceedings.
