SC bars screening of foreign movies during Eid, Puja, Pahela Baishakh holidays

The Supreme Court has ordered a halt to screening of foreign movies in the theatres throughout Bangladesh during Eid, Puja and Pahela Baishakh holidays.

No foreign movies including Indian Bangla and Hindi movies, but only local movies and movies made under joint-production can be screened during these three festivals, said lawyers following an order by the Appellate Division.    

An appellate bench of three, headed by the chief justice, issued the order on Wednesday clearing the appeal against the suspension by the High Court on screening of joint-production and imported movies.

Barrister Azmalul Hossain QC and Advocate Maniruzzaman Asad moved the plea for Selina Begum, owner of Nipa Enterprise who had filed a writ petition with the High Court.

Advocate AM Amin Uddin stood for Bangladesh Motion Picture Exhibitors Association President Iftekhar Uddin Nowshad who had appealed for suspension of the May 10 High Court ruling.

“The Appellate Division corrected part of the High Court order and lifted the bar on the screening of joint-production movies after the appeal hearing.

Earlier a High Court bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice AKM Zahirul Haque issued an order banning importing and screening of all types of foreign movies including those produced under joint-production.