With the slogan “Shilpey baachi shilpo baachai” (Living in art, liberating it), Bangladeshi actors, directors and crew who work for television formed a day-long protest yesterday at the Central Shahid Minar in the capital. Through a five-point demand, they urged the government to end some “malpractices” which existed in TV industry.
Organised by Federation of Televison Professional Organisation (FTPO), the rally saw participation of members of seven other organisations including Artist Association, Directors' Guild, Producer Association and Screenwriters' Association.
In the gathering, the FTPO leaders declared a five-point demand. Their demands included to stop the airing of foreign TV series dubbed in Bangla on private TV channels, TV officials not any outside client or agency should handle purchasing and transmitting of TV programmes, not any outside client or agency, re-settlement of minimum and logical rate of AIT in TV industry, prevention of illegal foreign artists and crew and to stop the airing of local TV commercial on foreign channels through downlink channel.
In their demand, they suggested that foreign artists and crew can work on special occasions if they are registered with the relevant organisations upon the government's nod.
The day-long rally commenced through placing wreaths by the entrants at the Central Shahid Minar at 11:00am. Later, leaders of the organisations delivered their speeches.