The High Court has barred the making of any kind of movie, tv drama or short file based on the story of Jahalam, who was wrongly-convicted and imprisoned for three years due to an identity mix-up.
The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam issued the embargo on Wednesday (Mar 20) after hearing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
It said the embargo will remain until a previous rule issued on the matter is disposed of.
“The ACC moved for a freeze on the grounds that the issue of Jahalam is a sub-judice matter and any kind of movie based on his story may affect the trial and investigation. The court accepted our plea,” ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told the media after the hearing.
Jahalam was arrested in 2016 after he was mistaken for Abu Salek, who was accused in 33 cases filed by the ACC over loan fraud and the embezzlement of nearly Tk 185 million from Sonali Bank.
He was released on Feb 4 this year, a day after it was brought to the High Court’s attention that he was serving time instead of Salek.
Recently, film maker Maria Tushar announced that they were planning a movie on Jahalam's life, and that she had registered with the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation to direct it.