GP served legal notice for using Humayun Ahmed’s characters in promotional video

Staff Correspondent

Acclaimed writer-filmmaker Humayun Ahmed’s family members have served a legal notice on Grammenphone alleging that the telecom company violated intellectual property rights by using commercially four popular drama characters created by the late author.

The legal notice was sent to Grameenphone on Sunday, by Barrister Hamidul Mizbah, on behalf of six family members of Humayun Ahmed—his wife Meher Afroz Shaon, daughters Nova Ahmed, Sheela Ahmed and Bipasha Ahmed, son Nuhash Humayun and brother renowned writer Zafar Iqbal.

Meher Afroz Shaon confirmed the matter to The Business Post yesterday.

Grameenphone, in one of their promotional campaigns titled ‘Kemon Achen Tara’ in 2020, used the four characters—Baker Bhai (Kothao Keu Nei), Elachi Begum (Ayomoy), Sobhan Saheb (Bohubrihi) and Taib Ali (Urey Jay Bok Pokkhi), without any consent from Humayun Ahmed’s family which is a violation of intellectual property rights, said a press release issued by the author’s family.

Meanwhile, the contents having the four characters garnered more than 30 lakh views after Grameenphone started releasing them on their YouTube channel and Facebook page, read the release.

In the notice, Grameenphone has been asked to take down the contents within three days and pay compensation to Humayun Ahmed’s family within 15 days for violating the intellectual rights of the legendary author.