The first major scandal that severely damaged Shomi Kaiser's public image occurred on April 24, 2019, at the National Press Club in Dhaka. The Phone Theft and Frisking
Kaiser was part of a controversial WhatsApp group titled "Alo Ashbei" (Light Will Come), which allegedly included pro-government artists who were active against the anti-discrimination student movement in 2024.
The scandal divided public opinion in Bangladesh:
The move to "frisk" or search journalists in attendance sparked outrage among the media community. It was later discovered through video footage that the phones had actually been stolen by a staff member who was present, not by the journalists she had detained. bangladeshi actress shomi kaiser scandal
Though granted interim bail by the High Court in late 2024 and early 2025, the Appellate Division repeatedly stayed these orders. As of mid-2025, she has continued to face legal proceedings regarding her alleged involvement in the suppression of student protests. 2. The 2019 "Journalists as Thieves" Incident
The fallout was swift. Journalist organizations demanded an and called for her removal as e-CAB president. A defamation case was later filed against her, though she was ultimately acquitted in April 2026 when the plaintiff failed to appear and the PBI found no proof of the allegations.
: She was arrested from her Uttara home in November 2024 in connection with an attempted murder case involving a BNP activist. The first major scandal that severely damaged Shomi
Long before facing criminal prosecution, Shomi Kaiser triggered intense public backlash on April 24, 2019, during her tenure as the president of the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB).
Even before the political upheaval, Shomi Kaiser was embroiled in a significant controversy with the media. On April 24, 2019, during an event at the National Press Club in Dhaka, she lost her two mobile phones. In response, her security guards locked the conference room doors and proceeded to frisk all attending journalists and guests. Around 50 journalists were locked inside for over half an hour.
In the early 2000s, Kaiser intentionally shifted her focus from the camera to the corporate office. She has described this transition as a choice to pursue business with the same heart and soul she once gave to acting. It was later discovered through video footage that
Her active involvement in cultural forums aligned with the Awami League made her a target of public anger during the 2024 student uprisings.
Subsequent security footage revealed that the phones were not stolen by a journalist, but rather by a worker who brought a cake to the ceremony.
Shomi Kaiser is a central figure in the Bangladeshi cultural landscape, whose journey spans the heights of the 1990s "Golden Era" of television to significant leadership in the nation's burgeoning e-commerce and corporate sectors. Her lifestyle and career are deeply intertwined with her family legacy and a versatile professional path that evolved from acting to business and politics.