A legal notice has been sent to the government urging it to ensure that Hindi films from India are dubbed in Bangla before being screened in cinemas across Bangladesh. 

Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan issued the notice on Sunday (Oct 3) via registered mail.

The notice was addressed to the secretaries of the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Defence, and the Bangladesh Film Certification Board, as well as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association.

According to the notice, Hindi is recognized as the official and de facto national language of India, which plays a key role in South Asia. The popularity of Hindi films on television and online in Bangladesh has sparked increased interest among Bangladeshi viewers. However, the notice warned that regular screenings of new Hindi films in Bangladeshi cinemas could further boost local enthusiasm for Hindi language and culture.

The lawyer’s notice argued that if Hindi films continue to be regularly screened without translation, Bangladeshi audiences could gradually develop an inclination toward the Hindi language, potentially even incorporating it into daily life. This, the notice claimed, poses a potential threat to Bangladesh’s sovereignty.

To address this concern, the notice called for the government to mandate that Hindi films be dubbed into Bangla prior to their cinema release in Bangladesh. It also suggested that the dubbing process should involve voice actors from the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association to promote local talent.

The notice further asked authorities to take appropriate action within three days, warning that failure to comply would result in a writ petition being filed with the High Court.

BDST: 1455 HRS, NOV 03, 2024
MSK