Last Updated:
The ambassador allegedly gifted her the Quran and prayer cloth, jewellery, flowers, and even 200 kgs of dates, inscribed as “A Gift from the King of Saudi Arabia”
Meghna claims she was drawn to Duhailan, who assured her he was divorced and even presented her with a diamond ring. (News18 Hindi)
Meghna Alam, former Miss Earth Bangladesh and a prominent activist, once captivated everyone with her poise, intellect, and leadership. Today, she faces public scrutiny, legal battles, and personal upheaval, following a controversial relationship with Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Yousef Al Duhailan. The saga, blending romance, diplomacy, and scandal, has not only jeopardised her career but also strained public discourse around personal freedom and international relations.
Alam, 30, chairs the Miss Bangladesh Foundation and identifies as a political leadership trainer. She first encountered Duhailan at a Dhaka event in September 2024. According to Alam, the diplomat pursued her with charm and lavish gifts. These included the Quran, a prayer mat, a prayer dress, flowers, jewellery, and even 200 kgs of dates labelled as “A Gift from the King of Saudi Arabia”. She recalls being drawn to the attention of a powerful man, describing the affair as intense but brief.
Recommended Stories
Duhailan allegedly presented Alam with a diamond ring, claiming he was divorced. However, he cautioned that Saudi diplomats were prohibited from marrying Bangladeshi citizens, and any marriage would not be legally recognised in his country. Reports dating back to 2021 suggested Saudi Arabia had formally barred its men from marrying women from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Chad.
The relationship soon became fodder for public speculation. Rumours circulated that Alam had become pregnant and undergone an abortion, allegations she strongly denies. In Bangladesh’s conservative society, such claims carried severe social stigma, leading brands to sever partnerships with her.
Matters escalated when Alam received a call from a woman claiming to be Duhailan’s wife, who allegedly told her that the diplomat had deceived her and racially insulted her by saying he would be ashamed to tell friends he loved a bengali. Shocked, Alam returned most of Duhailan’s gifts but retained items of religious significance, including the Quran and prayer mat.
On 9 April 2025, Alam alleges, plain-clothed men arrived at her residence, citing concerns about her birth certificate and alleged drugs in her home. She broadcast her experience live on Facebook, only to be detained shortly afterward.
Alam claims she was held for two days at the Detective Branch headquarters, a facility notorious for enforced disappearances under previous administrations. During this period, she alleges she was cut off from her family, had her phone and laptop confiscated, and was pressured to delete her live video and hand over passwords.
Alam was formally charged days later under the Special Powers Act, accused of fraud, extortion, and “honey-trapping” diplomats. Authorities alleged she was part of a syndicate, alongside businessman Dewan Samir, CEO of Kawaii Group, that used women to entrap foreign diplomats and wealthy traders for financial gain.
Midnight court proceedings on April 10 reportedly ordered her 30-day detention citing a threat to public safety, with police further asserting she had endangered state security and foreign relations. She was granted bail on April 28.
During her detention, Alam says her photos from public events with former ministers and at the Indian High Commission were circulated online to falsely portray her as a prostitute or foreign agent. The ordeal drew condemnation from human rights advocates. Twenty-seven women’s rights campaigners petitioned interim leader Muhammad Yunus, calling for her immediate release and highlighting alleged violations of due process. Amnesty International described the use of the Special Powers Act in her case as “draconian”, noting it has historically allowed arbitrary, prolonged detention without charge or judicial oversight.
Alam has since returned to live with her parents and relinquished her apartment due to ongoing harassment. She describes enduring severe psychological distress, stating that public and online character assassination has hindered her ability to rebuild her life and professional identity.
She carries the Quran and prayer dress she received from Duhailan to each court appearance as symbolic proof that her relationship with the diplomat was not illicit.
She claims Duhailan left Bangladesh the very day she was detained, deactivating his SIM and deleting his LinkedIn and Facebook accounts.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
October 07, 2025, 16:01 IST
Loading comments…
Read More
