Police have detained a car and its driver allegedly involved in an accident that left model and actress Meghla Mukta seriously injured in the capital's Banani area on July 28.
Banani police informed Meghla's family about the detention on Thursday night.
The accident occurred on July 28 when Meghla was crossing a road in Banani and a speeding car hit her before fleeing the scene. Passersby and locals rescued her in a bloodied condition and took her to a hospital.
That night, actor Imtiaz Barshan, a friend and co-artist of Meghla, filed a complaint with Banani Police Station.
Meghla suffered serious injuries to her face and head in the accident. She subsequently spent nearly a month receiving treatment in an intensive care unit and a cabin. She underwent multiple facial surgeries under the supervision of expert physicians.
She recently returned home after making some recovery but has yet to fully recover. Her doctors have told her that she will need more time to recuperate.
Following the accident, Meghla's colleagues submitted a written complaint to Banani Police Station against the car and its driver. However, alleging a lack of police action, Meghla's father filed a case with the police station on September 1.
Police later informed the family that the car and its driver had been detained.
The car was identified after analysing CCTV footage under the direction of Gulshan Division Deputy Commissioner Tanvir Ahmed, according to sources.
However, Meghla has expressed dissatisfaction with the police's role and overall handling of the case, alleging she did not receive the expected cooperation from Banani police following the accident.
She alleged that members of her family had to visit the police station repeatedly to help identify the car. Even after the driver was detained, she claimed there was a lack of transparency and unnecessary delay in the process.
Meghla also alleged that police merely informed her family about the detention of the car and driver as a formality and did not provide satisfactory explanations regarding the next legal steps or any visible progress towards justice.
She and her family have demanded proper legal action against those responsible and exemplary punishment.
Recalling her experience, Meghla said, "I have never faced any legal trouble or had to deal with the police in my life. Two incidents have happened to me in the past three months."
"My experience with the police in this incident has been very bad. It is extremely disappointing. I never imagined that the police could be so uncooperative," she stated.
Meghla added, "We at least know the roads to some extent and have people we know. Even then, we are going through so much harassment. But I truly feel terrible for ordinary people in this country."
"It felt to me that they do not receive any kind of legal remedy from the police. I am genuinely frustrated and angry about the whole matter," the actress stated with disappointment.
Meghla Mukta made her acting debut with the 2014 Bangladesh-India joint production Aami Shudhu Cheyechhi Tomay. She later appeared in Nabab (2017) and made a notable foray into the South Indian film industry with the Telugu film Sakala Kala Vallabhudu (2019). She subsequently starred in Saiful Islam Mannu's Payer Chhap (2022), marking her first lead role in a Bangladeshi film.