‘Follow the appropriate procedure if an artiste needs to be questioned’

Leaders of television associations urged those concerned to follow the appropriate procedure if an artiste needs to be questioned for legal or administrative reasons. They made the call at a recent roundtable discussion titled, Shilpir Morjada O Shilper Shadhinota (Dignity of Artistes and Freedom of Art). Cultural activists and key members of the television fraternity gathered at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy for the discussion, organised by the Directors' Guild Bangladesh, Actors Equity Bangladesh, Television Program Producers Association of Bangladesh (TPPAB), and TENASINAS.

The discussion was attended by TPPAB President Iresh Zaker and General Secretary Shaju Muntasir, Directors' Guild President Salahuddin Lavlu and General Secretary S M Kamruzzaman Sagar, Actors Equity Bangladesh President Shahiduzzaman Selim and General Secretary Ahsan Habib Nasim, and TENASINAS President Masum Reza, among others.

At the meeting, speakers hoped for a positive role of the state, media, and social organisations in protecting the dignity of artistes, and creating conducive environments for artistes to work independently. They mentioned that media and social media trials of artistes have been going on with irresponsible propaganda. Such actions are tarnishing the image of artistes across mass and social media.

The discussion further emphasised that artistes play a key role in entertaining the public and raising awareness on different social issues. Yet, other forces of society are not equally vocal about protecting the human rights of artistes. Rather, artistes are treated as 'products' that anyone can judge, or find faults in. As a result, many artistes have been victims of cyberbullying, in recent times. In this regard, the mutual understanding between artistes need to be strengthened, and art-based organisations need to be enterprising in projecting the dignity of artistes.

The speakers also said that if an artiste is involved in negative or criminal activities, it is their personal matter. The liability for criminal claims raised against one artiste, is frequently being promoted as a feature or characteristic of all artistes by the media. Whereas, the responsibility of an artiste's personal activities does not rest on the shoulders of their professional community.

In addition, regarding the law for smoking and drinking alcohol on screen, the speakers said that smoking and consumption of alcohol is showcased according to the demands of the specific character. For this reason, the matter needs to be settled fairly. The speakers urged the government to expedite the drafting of the National Broadcast Act.