Actress Shabnur refutes false claims by Salman Shah death case witness Rizvi Ahmed

Renowned Bangladeshi actress Shabnur has publicly refuted recent allegations made by Rizvi Ahmed, an individual previously implicated in the 1996 death of Dhallywood icon Salman Shah. In a detailed statement released via social media on August 8, 2026, the actress dismissed the claims as baseless, defamatory, and contradictory.

Salman Shah was found dead at his residence on September 6, 1996. The case remains a subject of intense public discourse and ongoing legal scrutiny. Rizvi Ahmed, alias Farhad, had previously claimed to be a witness for the prosecution in 1997, confessing to his involvement in a murder-for-hire plot involving Salman Shah. However, Rizvi has since shifted his narrative significantly, claiming in recent interviews that the death was a suicide and shifting the blame onto Salman Shah’s mother, Nila Chowdhury, and, for the first time, accusing Shabnur of blackmailing the late actor.

Shabnur challenged the credibility of Rizvi’s fluctuating testimonies, noting that he has provided conflicting accounts over the past three decades. “When the same person provides contradictory statements at different times, the credibility of his latest claims is naturally brought into serious question,” she stated. The actress further debunked sensationalist claims made by Rizvi, including allegations that he and Shabnur were once in a relationship, were married between 2016 and 2018, and subsequently divorced.

“I have never met this man, nor have I ever communicated with him. His claims of a marriage are physically impossible, as I never visited the United Kingdom during the period he alleges, and he claims he has not returned to Bangladesh since 1999,” Shabnur asserted. She categorized these narratives as “hallucinations” designed to smear her reputation.

The actress suggested that Rizvi’s recent defamatory campaign might be orchestrated by those currently facing legal pressure in the reopened murder investigation. She theorized that the accused parties might be using financial incentives or manipulation to divert attention from the judicial process.

“I wish to state clearly that I had no connection to the death of Salman Shah. He was a beloved co-artist and like an elder brother to me,” Shabnur said. She concluded by demanding a transparent and impartial investigation into the 29-year-old case to ensure that the truth is revealed and that justice is served for all involved.

As of August 2026, the ongoing investigation into the death of Salman Shah, overseen by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), continues to involve 11 named defendants, including his former wife Samira Haque and businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, alongside several others.