Writ filed in High Court seeking ban on love, romance-based dramas and films

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking directives to stop the production and broadcast of only love and romance-based dramas and films, citing the reasons of preventing the "moral degradation" of the youth and making students attentive to their studies.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun filed the writ petition in the public interest on Sunday.

The writ named the Cabinet Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Chairman of the Bangladesh Film Certification Board as defendants.

The petition stated that love and excessive romantic content are being seen in the country's current film and drama industry. The unrestricted broadcast of such content is having a "severely negative impact" on society. In these mainstream media, matters such as extramarital affairs, out-of-wedlock relationships, adultery and rape are being presented as "normal". This is diverting the youth and students from their studies and creating social disorder.

Citing international news reports, the petition stated that such content obstructs the psychological development of the youth. At the same time, the petition mentioned that such matters can also contribute to an increase in violence and crimes against women in society.

The petition stated that although Article 39 of the Constitution speaks of the freedom of speech and expression, there is scope to impose reasonable restrictions through law in the interest of decency or morality. The petition also claimed that content destroying public morality cannot receive the protection of this Article.

Additionally, the petitioner mentioned that the relevant sections of the Bangladesh Film Certification Act, 2023, and the Cable Television Network Regulation Act have an obligation to prohibit content contrary to education, culture and social values.

Alongside banning love-based content only, the petition also sought directives to issue mandatory instructions to those concerned to produce and broadcast dramas and films on science, education, history, the Liberation War and national defence.

Earlier, a legal notice was sent to the defendants on August 27 in this regard. The petition stated that the writ case was filed in the public interest as effective administrative action was not taken within the stipulated time after the notice.