‘Prince’ certification suspended over unauthorised scenes

The Bangladesh Film Certification Board has suspended the certification of Shakib Khan starrer “Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka” over allegations of adding unauthorised scenes and songs after receiving approval.

The development was confirmed through a press release issued by the Department of Information. According to the notice, the film cannot be screened in any cinema hall across Bangladesh until further orders are issued.

The board stated that uncertified scenes and songs had been inserted into the released version of the film. It also alleged that smoking and drug-use warning texts in the approved copy were tampered with and displayed in non-compliant printable fonts.

Among the objections raised were the inclusion of the song sequence “Tomake Chhara” and graphic scenes showing indiscriminate killings with a machete in a desert setting in India. The notice further claimed that several scenes previously removed by the board had been reinserted, including depictions of a hand being severed with a machete, a throat-slitting scene, and visuals featuring “indecent and distasteful” costumes and gestures by female characters.

Directed by Abu Hayat Mahmud, the film was released nationwide on March 21 marking Eid-ul-Fitr. Produced by Shirin Sultana, the cast also includes Tasnia Farin and Jyotirmoyee Kundu in key roles. The film was released in 133 cinema halls across the country.