Bangladesh movie actors, directors strike over decision to screen Indian movie in theatres

Bangladeshi movie actors and directors have gone on an indefinite strike protesting against a decision to screen Indian movies in local theatres.

Shoots both at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) and elsewhere in the country have come to a halt since Thursday evening.

'Bangladesh Chalachitra Oikya Jote' (films unity) told bdnews24.com that the strike would continue until further announcement.

Leaders of the unity submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday afternoon opposing the import and screening of Indian films.

Prime minister’s Information Affairs Adviser Iqbal Sobhan received the memorandum.

A leader of the Oikya Jote and Bangladesh Film Directors Association’s Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Ali Mondal said, “In protest against the release of Indian movie ‘Wanted’, we have decided to suspend all movie-related activities.

"We are now waiting for the prime minister’s response. Our strike will continue until our demands are met.”

He said film stars including 'Shakib', 'Moushumi' and Amit Hasan along with crew members would visit theatres at 9am on Friday.

They would request the audience to boycott Bollywood movies at halls where ‘Wanted’ is expected to be released.

Bangladesh Film Directors Association, Film Artists Association and other organisations of the film industry have started the protest since Inwin Enterprise decided to imported four Hindi movies from India — 'Wanted', 'Don 2', 'Taare Zameen Par' and '3 Idiots'.

The Oikya Jote was formed after the Inwin announced the release of ‘Wanted’ in 80 theatres.

Leaders of the Oikya Jote said at a press conference at the FDC on Tuesday that they would prevent the screening of Hindi movies at any cost.

On the other hand, head of the Inwin Nawshad said they followed the SAFTA Agreement and the direction of the information ministry while importing the movies and hence there was no legal hurdle in releasing ‘Wanted.’

Meanwhile, on behalf of the Oikya Jote, Advocate Ekhlas Uddin Bhuiyan has sent a legal notice to the cabinet secretary, cultural affairs minister and secretary, chairman of the Censor Board, Dhaka deputy commissioner, IG of the police asking them not to allow screening of ‘Wanted’.

In the meantime, the Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association has convened an emergency meeting on Saturday to take a decision on the import and screening of Indian films.