Bangladeshi singer Mainul Ahsan Nobel has been granted bail in a case involving allegations of fraud, confinement, and harassment brought by a former partner.
On Sunday (5 April), following a hearing, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka, presided over by Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, approved bail for the artist on a personal bond of BDT 5,000. Defence lawyer Md Imran Hossain confirmed the order, stating that there is now no legal barrier preventing Nobel’s release from custody.
The case was originally filed on 13 August last year by a young woman, Anannya Shabnam Roz (commonly referred to as Anannya), who accused Nobel and several associates—including his mother, Nazma Hossain; his wife, Israt Jahan Priya; a close associate known as Masud Rana; and his assistant Muneem Shah Soumik—of orchestrating a coordinated act of deception and abuse.
According to the complaint, Nobel allegedly lured the complainant into a romantic relationship with promises of marriage, subsequently defrauding her of approximately BDT 1,318,540 over a period spanning from 25 August 2023 to June of the following year. The allegations further include unlawful confinement and attempts to produce compromising images. The accused associates were claimed to have assisted in these actions.
Following the complaint, the case was transferred to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) for inquiry. On 7 January, investigators submitted a report to the court, stating that initial findings substantiated the allegations against all five accused individuals. Acting on this report, the court issued arrest warrants on 2 February.
Nobel was subsequently arrested on 23 February from the Siddhirganj area of Narayanganj. He was produced before the court the following day, where he was initially granted bail under conditions of settlement and with the complainant’s consent. However, the complainant later alleged that the settlement terms were violated, including claims of further harassment.
As a result, the bail was later challenged and subsequently cancelled. On 2 April, after reviewing the petition, the court ordered that Nobel be sent to prison custody. Following further legal proceedings, the court has now granted him bail again on 5 April.
Key Case Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 13 Aug (previous year) | Complaint filed alleging fraud, confinement and harassment |
| 7 Jan | PBI submits investigation report supporting allegations |
| 2 Feb | Court issues arrest warrants |
| 23 Feb | Nobel arrested in Narayanganj; initially granted conditional bail |
| 2 Apr | Bail cancelled; court orders imprisonment |
| 5 Apr | Court grants bail on personal bond |
The case remains under judicial scrutiny as proceedings continue.