The screening of Rana Plaza, a film based on the tragic Rana Plaza collapse – has been barred as the Bangladesh Film Censor Board has rejected its appeal for permission to screen it in the cinemas.

The movie centers on garment factory worker Reshma Begum’s 17-day fight to survive under the debris of Rana Plaza, a building that collapsed on April 24, 2013.

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

It read that the committee had found the movie not suitable for public viewing. In addition to that, 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 November 3 until the settlement of the appeal filed with the censor board’s committee.

On July 17, the High Court directed the authorities concerned to delete some scenes from the film saying they were too graphic and may have detrimental effects on public sentiment. The court also instructed to remove Reshma’s name from the story.

The film was set to premiere on September 4 but the High Court, on August 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 that the movie has “frightening scenes” and the names of security forces were used in it, which is a “violation of the law.” According to Bangladesh Censorship of Films Rules, 1977, horrifying scenes and use of TV footages and names of law enforcement agencies in a film are prohibited.

However, on September 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 September 14.

A regular bench rejected the review petition on September 17.

The 137-minute film, produced by Shamima Aktar and directed by Nazrul Islam Khan, was cleared for release by Bangladesh Film Censor Board on July 16. Actress Pori Moni was supposed to make her debut by playing the role of Reshma in this movie opposite to actor Symon Sadik.