Judges rule against high court order banning film about Rana Plaza building collapse after appeal by producer
Bangladesh’s supreme court has lifted a ban on the screening of a film about a garment worker who was rescued from the rubble 17 days after the Rana Plaza factory building collapsed in 2013, killing more than 1,000 people.
In response to an appeal by the producer, a four-member panel of judges led by chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has ruled against a high court order that banned the release of the film for six months.
Producer Shamima Akhter argued that it should be released as the country’s film censor board had approved the screening after cutting some scenes in response to court directives. The film’s director, Nazrul Islam Khan, has argued that the real-life story of Reshma Begum depicts courage amid tragedy.
Last month, the high court banned Rana Plaza after a petition was submitted alleging that the film has scenes of horror, cruelty and violence that could negatively affect workers in the country’s vital garment industry.
Lawyers said the ruling means there are no more obstacles to releasing the movie, although it is not clear when that will happen.
The April 2013 disaster killed 1,135 people, with thousands more rescued from the ruins of the illegally built complex that contained five factories supplying clothing to international companies.
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