Entertainment Report :
Country’s film directors and artistes organised a press conference demanding an explanation for why movie Shonibarer Bikel (Saturday Afternoon) is stuck at the Bangladesh Film Censor Board and movie Hawa was stamped with a lawsuit for allegedly violating wildlife
conservation laws.
The press conference titled ‘I want freedom to tell stories’ was held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Thursday. The directors and artistes also put forward a five-point demand at the conference.
Artistes Nasir Uddin Yousuff, filmmaker Morshedul Islam, actors Tariq Anam Khan, Shampa Reza, filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, actor Zahid Hasan, actress-director Afsana Mimi, director Nurul Alam Atique, actor Masum Reza, directors Amitabh Reza, Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, actors Jaya Ahsan, Chanchal Chowdhury, Azmeri Haque Badhon and Nazifa Tushi, among others, were present at the press conference.
In the press conference, they presented five-point demands. These are as follows:
1) The case against movie Hawa under wildlife conservation laws should be withdrawn immediately.
2) The Film Censor Board should give a clear explanation as to why movie Shonibarer Bikel (Saturday Afternoon) is stuck at the Censor Board and not getting a clearance certificate.
3) The Film Censor Board should be abolished and an updated and inclusive film certification law should be formulated, subject to consultation with all stakeholders regarding the proposed film certification law.
4) An updated and inclusive OTT policy needs to be formulated in consultation with all stakeholders regarding the proposed OTT policy.
5) Before filing any case related to film or content, it must be discussed with the relevant authority. For example, the draft OTT policy proposes to create a separate commission board for the platforms.
