Bangla movie on controversial topic set to release on June 10

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A Bangla movie named Bikkhobh (বিক্ষোভ), which stands for ‘Demonstration’ is set to be released in Bangladesh on June 10. In publicity of this film, its maker Shamim Ahmed Rony claims, Bikkhobh is based on the story of protests of students in 2018 demanding road safety.

Commenting on this film, a Facebook user wrote in his status:

“The movement took place in 2018, which was backed by many [anti-government elements] including BNP’s Tareq Rahman. Their target was to use students of schools and colleges, bring them on streets and finally topple-down the Awami League government. What is the reason behind bringing up that issue? There are allegations of corruption and making millions of takas by illegally stealing sand from river beds. Mainly BNP-inclined individuals are housed in his production company. One of the policymakers of that film production company is a former cadre of BNP leader Khandaker Delowar Hossain. This production company also faces allegations of money-laundering as the owner of this company [Selim Khan] has smuggled-out millions of takas to India and invested in film production. Indian movie actor Dev is one of his accomplices. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also has got evidence of financial crimes committed by Selim Khan. Before release of this film (Bikkhobh), government needs to scrutinize its content”.

Who is Selim Khan?

According to a report published in vernacular daily Jugantor, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found preliminary evidences against Selim Khan, chairman of Laxmipur Union Parishad in Chandpur district of embezzling several thousand crores of takas.

Meanwhile, another vernacular newspaper The Vorer Pata in its exclusive report said: “Chandpur city, the capital of Hilsa [fish] is the Meghna basin is being swallowed by an individual known as close associate of the Education Minister Dipu Moni. Locals fear that the city will be submerged in the river at one time due to illegal sand lifting in hundreds of places in the adjacent river of the city.

“It is leaned that Selim Khan alias Chora Selim used to serve tea at various clubs in the capital city. From there he got acquainted to Ismail Chowdhury Samrat, the expelled president of Dhaka Metropolitan South Juba League. Samrat currently is in prison. Selim Khan began illegally lifting sand from the Meghna river by using influence of his friendship with Ismail Chowdhury Samrat and with the direct help of Dr. Wadud Tipu, brother of the Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni. Such connections changed the life of Selim Khan.

“On several occasion, Education Minister Dipu Moni has issued DO letters to various minister on behalf of this controversial Selim. On August 18, 2021, the minister sent a DO letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Food, copy of which has reached the Vorer Pata”.

According to BLiTZ investigation, Selim Khan owns a film production company named ‘Shapla Media’, a, IP-based TV channel named ‘Voice TV’, an OTT platform named ‘Cinebuzz’ and a vernacular daily newspaper published from Chandpur district. He also has opened office of Shapla Media in Kolkata, West Bengal, although it is not clear if he has obtained required permission from the Bangladesh Bank and relevant ministry for transferring millions of takas to India for starting this venture. It is rumored that Selim Khan, with the active collaboration of a number of his aides in Bangladesh and India has smuggled-out several billion takas to India and invested in the film sector as well as in some other business ventures.

Seeking anonymity, a source told this correspondent that, the key reason behind Selim Khan’s involvement in the film sector and entertainment industry is to whiten his black money. It said, accomplices of Selim Khan openly proclaim stating law enforcement agencies are “no one can even pluck a hair of him [Selim] as country’s law enforcement agencies and influential people in the government as inside pocket” of Selim Khan”.

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