Stop use of nat'l anthem as ringtone

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court verdict that had directed mobile phone operators to stop using the national anthem as ringtones or welcome tunes on mobile phones.

The Appellate Division of the SC also directed private mobile phone operator Aktel, now Robi, to donate Tk 30 lakh to National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital at Mohakhali in Dhaka immediately for using the national anthem commercially, violating the law.

A four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha came up with the order after hearing an appeal filed by Robi against the HC verdict.

Following a writ petition filed by SC lawyer Kalipada Mridha in 2006, the HC on August 5, 2010, declared using the national anthem for mobile phone ringtones and welcome tunes illegal, and directed Banglalink, Grameenphone and Aktel to donate Tk 50 lakh each to three charity organisations for using the national anthem as a business tool.

However, the SC reduced the amount to Tk 30 lakh.

Yesterday's SC order came five months after it had given a similar order for Banglalink and Grameenphone following their separate appeals against the HC verdict, writ petitioner's counsel Masud Ahmed Sayeed told The Daily Star.

He, however, could not say whether Banglalink and Grameenphone had donated Tk 30 lakh each to any charity organisation.

Banglalink and Grameenphone were ordered to donate Tk 30 lakh to Liver Foundation and National Institute of Kidney Research respectively, Masud added.