Court defers cross-examination as actress Pori Moni taken ill on court premises
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Actress Shamsunnahar Smriti, popularly known as Pori Moni, has fallen ill after arriving at court, halting her cross-examination in the 2021 Savar Boat Club assault and sexual harassment case.
Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-9 Judge Shahina Haque Siddika has set Sept 9 as the new hearing date after her lawyer sought time citing health grounds.
Pori Moni reached the court at 11:05am on Monday. At 11:30am, court officials announced that the cross-examination would take place at 3:30pm, reports bdnews24.com.
She waited in her car until the afternoon. As her condition deteriorated, her lawyer Nilanjana Rifat Surovi filed a time petition, which was granted.
Pori Moni left the court premises shortly after.
On Jun 8, 2021, Pori Moni ignited heated discussions when she alleged that she was harassed at the boat club in Savar’s Birulia on the banks of the Turag River.
On Jun 13 that year, Pori Moni wrote in a Facebook post: “I have been subjected to physical abuse. An attempt was made to rape and murder me. I want justice.”
The post, addressing the then prime minister, quickly spread on social media. An hour later, the actress held a press conference at her Gulshan home and presented her allegations. The following day, the actress filed a case with the Savar Model Police Station, alleging attempted rape, attempted murder, and assault.”
Immediately after the case was filed, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch arrested businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmood and his friend Tuhin Siddique Omi from their house in Uttara’s Sector No. 1. After an investigation, Savar Model Police Station Inspector Kamal Hossain filed a charge sheet in the court on Sept 7, naming three suspects.
The suspects are Nasir, Tuhin Siddiqui Ami, and Shahidul Alam.
On May 18, 2022, the court indicted the suspects and started the trial.
The hearing of testimony began on Nov 29 that year with the recording of partial statements from Pori Moni. She completed her testimony on Sept 22 last year.