The High Court has imposed a ban on making films and TV shows about Jahalam, who was wrongfully imprisoned for three years due to an identity mix-up.
The bench of Justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and KM Hafizul Alam issued the order on Wednesday, after hearing a writ petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking an embargo on a Jahalam biopic.
The ban will remain in effect until the disposal of a ruling issued by another High Court bench related to Jahalam, ACC lawyer advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters.
The information secretary and cultural affairs secretary have been instructed to implement the High Court order so no film or TV show is produced on Jahalam.
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“The case regarding Jahalam is still pending at the High Court, so no film can be made on the sub-judice matter,” the lawyer added.
On Monday, Khurshid had said they had recently seen the news of a film based on Jahalam's experience, and decided to file the writ.
The ACC moved the High Court on Tuesday seeking on a proposed film about the jute mill worker, who was arrested in 2016 after he was mistaken for Abu Salek, who was accused in 33 cases filed by the ACC over loan fraud and the embezzlement of nearly Tk18.5 crore from Sonali Bank.
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Jahalam was released from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur on February 4, a day after it was brought to the High Court’s attention that he was serving time instead of Salek.
The ACC submitted an affidavit on March 5 on the case. On March 6, the High Court observed that the ACC had to take the responsibility for Jahalam's wrongful imprisonment, as the commission did not take any step to secure his bail even after getting evidence of his innocence.
Maria Tushar, director of the film in question, has already suspended the pre-production work. On Tuesday, she took to her personal Facebook profile and said: “The production of the film has been postponed due to the overall situation and legal complications. As the director, I will refrain from shooting any kind of scenes for the film.”
