Rumeen Farhana calls for human chain over suspension of 'Bonolota Express' screening in Brahmanbaria

Brahmanbaria-2 lawmaker Rumeen Farhana has said a human chain and protest programme will be held in Brahmanbaria today (1 June) over the suspension of the screening of the film "Bonolota Express," which had been scheduled to be shown at the premises of Annada Government High School.

In a post on her verified Facebook page today, Rumeen said the programme will take place at Shahbazpur union at 4:15pm.

Rumeen also stated that she will be present at the protest.

Earlier, controversy erupted in Brahmanbaria surrounding the scheduled screening of the acclaimed film after organisers alleged that local Qawmi madrasah students launched an aggressive social media campaign to block the event.

The Brahmanbaria Film Society, a platform formed by undergraduate students from various tertiary institutions, had scheduled the screening for Saturday afternoon (30 May) on the Annada Government High School premises to mark the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.

However, the initiative hit a major roadblock as student wings of Islamic groups began campaigning against the screening online, prompting conflicting claims between the student organisers and the school administration regarding official venue approval.

Meanwhile, police and local administration on Saturday night (30 May) stopped the screening of the film in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria, a day after another scheduled screening in the district town was cancelled following objections from Qawmi madrasa students.

According to organiser Adib Reza Rangan, a student of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), the film was set to be screened at Talatala Government Primary School after a family gathering.

"Everything was ready and the screening was scheduled to begin at 11pm. Around 15 minutes before the show, police and an executive magistrate arrived and told us it had to be stopped because the film was already facing controversy in the district town," he said.

Rangan said he explained that the film contained nothing objectionable, but authorities did not allow the screening to proceed.

Kasba Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Naznin Sultana denied allegations that a large police contingent was deployed to stop the event.

"We went there to verify whether the organisers had permission to screen the film. As they did not have the necessary approval, they themselves decided to stop the screening," she said.

Kasba Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Tanzil Kabir said authorities visited the venue after receiving information that the event could create a law-and-order situation.

"When we arrived, we did not see any film screening taking place. Later, the organisers told us there was no such programme and that they were removing the arrangements," he said.