Resolving a leave-to-appeal plea, the Supreme Court upheld a ban on using the national anthem as ringtone and welcome tune by mobile phone operators yesterday.
The Appellate Division Bench headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha came up with the order following the plea filed by mobile phone operator Robi Axiata Limited.
The court ordered the operator to donate Tk30 lakhs to the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital.
In 2006, a writ was filed with the High Court against using the national anthem as ringtone and welcome tune as it violates the National Anthem Act 1978 which determines when, where and how it could be played. Using national anthem commercially violates fundamental rights.
Mobile phone operators – Grameenphone, Banglalink and Robi were made defendants in the plea.
After four years, the High Court declared using the national anthem for ringtones and welcome tunes illegal and asked the three companies to donate Tk50 lakhs each.
GP was instructed to donate the amount to the Liver Foundation and Banglalink to the National Institute of Kidney Research, while Robi to the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital.
Grameenphone and Banglalink filed a plea against the verdict, which was resolved in May this year by the apex court by upholding the High Court verdict.
The plea by Robi was resolved yesterday. The Supreme Court however, reduced Robi’s amount to Tk30 lakhs, said Robi’s counsel Masum Ahmed Sayed.
