Bangladesh Censor Board blocks 'Rana Plaza' from cinemas

The screening of 'Rana Plaza' has been barred as the Bangladesh Film Censor Board has rejected its appeal for permission to screen it in the cinemas.

The Appellate Committee of the board has not granted the movie the censor certificate, according to a circular issued on Tuesday.

It said the committee found the movie produced by Shamima Akter not suitable for public viewing.

It also said the film will be seized and related organisations and individuals will face legal action if it is screened without the censor board's clearance.

The information ministry blocked the screening of the movie on Nov 3 until the settlement of the appeal filed with the censor board's committee.

The film was set to be premiered on Sep 4 but the High Court, on Aug 24, slapped a six-month ban on its release following a plea by the Bangladesh National Garment Workers League chief Sirajul Islam.

It had also stayed the censor board’s clearance of the movie.

The petitioner alleged the movie has 'frightening scenes' and the names of security forces were used in it, which is a 'violation of the law'.

But, on Sep 6, the Appellate Division overruled the ban, clearing the way for its release.

Again, the petitioner moved the Supreme Court’s Chamber Judge for a review of the verdict and a status quo was imposed until Sep 14.

A regular bench rejected the review petition on Sep 17.

The movie is based on the true story of a garment factory worker’s 17-day fight to survive under the debris of Rana Plaza, a building that collapsed on Apr 24, 2013.

The collapse, one of the worst industrial accidents, claimed 1,135 lives and injured thousands of others who worked in five garment factories in the building in Savar.