Pori Moni served legal notice seeking unconditional apology

A legal notice has been sent to actress Pori Moni, whose real name is Shamsunnahar Smrity, over allegations of misconduct towards journalists, death threats and disrespect to the national anthem. The notice asks her to issue an unconditional written apology within seven days for the incident at the court premises and refrain from such conduct in the future.

Supreme Court lawyer Khandaker Hasan Shahriar sent the notice by post on Sunday (November 8) to Pori Moni and the president and general secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artistes Association.

The notice also calls on the association's leaders to take necessary organisational action against the actress. It asks the association to issue her a show-cause notice within seven days and take disciplinary measures based on the allegations. It warns that further legal action will be pursued if no steps are taken within the stipulated period.

According to the notice, Pori Moni surrendered before a Dhaka court and secured bail on November 5 in a case filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud. At around 11:40am that day, after she arrived at the court premises, a scuffle broke out between journalists and her personal security personnel when reporters attempted to take photographs and videos. Her security personnel allegedly seized the mobile phone of Samakal multimedia reporter Robiul Hossain and vandalised his video-recording tripod.

The notice further states that Jago News reporter Ashikuzzaman and multimedia reporter Abdullah Al Kawsar, Agamir Shomoy reporter Siam Hossain and Shah Riaz of Times Today were injured in the incident. It also cites media reports that a court service-seeker named Sujan Chandra Moni Das sustained a head injury during the same incident.

The lawyer's notice says the state and the administration are responsible for ensuring the safety of journalists, lawyers and litigants on court premises. It argues that personal security personnel have no authority to use muscle power or restrict the movement of ordinary people or interfere with their work.

The notice also refers to a subsequent verbal altercation between Pori Moni and journalist Robiul Hossain. It alleges that, while leaving the court, the actress moved aggressively towards the reporter, used abusive language against him and threatened to kill him. The notice says videos of the incident were broadcast by various media outlets.

Regarding the allegation of disrespecting the national anthem, the notice states that Pori Moni published a post on her verified personal Facebook page on November 6. It accuses her of using Bangladesh's national anthem as background music in the post while adding obscene remarks. The notice also refers to media reports on the matter.

According to lawyer Hasan Shahriar, Pori Moni's words, behaviour and actions as a film actress may influence a section of the younger generation. The notice expresses concern that public obscenities, threats, discourteous behaviour towards journalists and controversial actions involving the national anthem could have a negative impact on society.

The notice also calls on Pori Moni to refrain from performing obscene dialogues, making threats, using offensive gestures and staging nude or semi-nude dance performances in films, videos, still photographs or any other medium that lack artistic or educational value.

Pori Moni surrendered before a court and secured bail on November 5 in a case filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud over allegations of assault, vandalism and intimidation. Earlier, on November 4, the court cancelled her bail and issued an arrest warrant after she failed to appear. On the day she secured bail, allegations of a confrontation with journalists and physical altercations involving her security personnel emerged at the court premises.