Bangladesh protesters tear down posters of Bollywood movie ‘Wanted’

Bangladesh movie industry actors, directors and other stakeholders have protested the release of Bollywood movie ‘Wanted’ in the country by tearing down its posters and banners at four cinemas in Dhaka.

Jayanta Sahabdnews24.com
Published : 23 Jan 2015, 03:53 PM
Updated : 23 Jan 2015, 03:54 PM

Organised under the umbrella of Bangladesh Cholochitra Oikya Jote (movie unity council), they demonstrated in front of theatres from morning to afternoon on Friday.

All film-related activities inside and outside Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) have remained suspended since Thursday at the call of the Oikya Jote in protest against import and screening of Hindi movies.

The agitators tore down ‘Wanted’ posters and banners in front of Shyamoli, Ananda, Purnima and Modhumita cinemas at Dhaka’s Shyamoli, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar and Motijheel respectively.

They removed the banners of the movie from Purnima Hall and were locked in scuffles with police while tearing posters in front of Modhumita.

Following the scuffle, the agitators took position on the road and staged a rally there.
Speaking at the rally, actor Shakib Khan said they were agitating not only for the sake of the film industry, but also to “save the country”.
Khan, also the president of Bangladesh Film Artistes Association (BFAA), said: “A conspiracy is going on to ruin our country. The culture of a country needs to be ruined first to destroy that country. They (conspirators) are trying to spoil our culture.”
Referring to those who import foreign movies, he said: “They don’t believe in our independence. They are Razakars. How dare they?”
Khan said they visited several cinemas and found that ‘Wanted’ drew lukewarm response from the moviegoers.
Bangladesh Film Director Association (BFDA) Vice-President Sohanur Rahman Sohan said they would not allow anyone to ‘distort’ the language and culture of Bangladesh.
BFAA General Secretary Misha Sawdagor and BFDA Secretary General Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar also spoke on the occasion.
Inn-Win Enterprise owner Md Iftekharuddin Naushad, also the owner of Modhumita Hall, secured permission to import and display three Indian films including ‘Wanted.’
He said ‘Wanted’ had been released in 50 cinemas in the last two days.
He found the rate of ticket sale and number of viewers satisfactory at the four halls in Dhaka.
Bangladesh Film Exhibitors Association Vice-President Sudipta Das endorsed the statement of Naushad.
He said: “Bangla movies now cannot woo viewers.”
A large number of police were deployed in front of Modhumita Hall before demonstrations were staged there.