DHAKA: The High Court proscribed the commercial use of national anthem as ring tone and welcome tone of mobile phone and fined three firms a total of Tk 1.50 crore for doing so.

A High Court Bench comprising Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Farah Mahbub gave the verdict Thursday.

A complainant named Kalipada Mridha filed a writ petition seeking HC verdict banning the use of the national anthem as the ring tone and welcome tone by cell-phone companies GrameenPhone, the largest operator of mobile phones in the country, Banglalink, the second-largest, and Robi, formerly AKTEL.

After final hearing of the writ petition Thursday, the High Court bench pronounced the verdict and fined the companies Tk 50 lakh each.

The High Court also ordered the companies to give the money to three establishments, including the heart foundation and the Kidney Research Center, as grants.  

After declaration of the verdict, Barrister Masud Ahmed on behalf of the petitioner told newsmen that as per the law, “the national anthem cannot be used for commercial purposes. But the cell-phone operators did so”.

BDST/1406hrs, AUGUST 5, 2010