The top court has banned screening of foreign films in cinemas across the country during major festivals like Eid, Durga Puja and the Bangla New Year.
However, joint venture movies have been exempted.
The chief justice-led appeals bench gave the order on Wednesday after disposing of a petition challenging a previous High Court order banning joint venture and foreign films from screening in theatres.
The High Court ruling, on May 10, came after a petition by movie production company Neepa Enterprise’s owner Selina Begum.
Iktedar Uddin Nawshad, president of Bangladesh Motion Picture Exhibitors’ Association, the cinema owners’ body, moved the Appellate Division against the order.
Ajmalul Hossain QC represented Neepa Enterprise, assisted by lawyer Maniruzzaman Asad.
“The local movies are failing to attract cinemagoers due to foreign films. After our client moved the High Court, it banned screening of all foreign and joint venture films,” he told Bangla Tribune after Wednesday’s hearing.
“Following Exhibitors’ Association Nawshad challenging it, the Appellate Division has modified the High Court’s order exempting joint ventures movies. But foreign films remain prohibited,” said Asad.