BTRC asked to stop streaming of French movie until ‘offensive dialogue’ purged

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting instructed Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to stop streaming of French movie “The Last Mercenary” on Netflix until ‘disrespectful dialogue’ about the apparel industry of Bangladesh is purged.

The information ministry instructed BTRC to take action in a letter on September 2, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

“Netflix cannot humiliate our world-famous prestigious biggest industry. They have to remove the derogatory dialogue. We have written to the government asking for the removal of the dialogue,” said Shahidullah Azim, Vice President of BGMEA.

At the same time, the ministry conveyed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a separate letter urging BTRC to take necessary steps to stop the promotion of the film streamed through Netflix.

Earlier, BGMEA wrote to Netflix, protesting what it said was a “disrespectful and derogatory” remark on Bangladesh-made apparels in a movie but Netflix has not purged it. Inaction by Netflix could allow the government of Bangladesh to take an extreme initiative and stop streaming of the movie in the country.