DoF, ‘Hawa’ makers to settle wildlife dispute

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has taken the initiative to settle the case filed on the ‘Shalik controversy’ of the film ‘Hawa.’ However, the film is set to break all previous records to become the first Bangladeshi film to release in 117 theatres across the US and Canada from September 2.

Senior Information Officer Dipankar Bar of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change confirmed the matter in a press release on Sunday evening saying that the director Mezbaur Rahman Sumon, has applied for a compromise settlement as he was unaware of the Wildlife Conservation and Security Act 2012.

According to the press release, as the case is negotiable under Section 43 of the Wildlife (Protection and Security) Act 2012, an application has been made to withdraw the case under Section 248 of the Criminal Procedure Code today (August 28) in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court. The court accepted the withdrawal appeal and fixed the verdict at a later date.

Moreover, Sumon’s directorial debut ‘Hawa’ is on a blockbuster run in Bangladesh and this is the first time any Bangladeshi film will be screened in 117 theatres in No.

According to Md Oliullah Sajib, president of Swapno Scarecrow, the international distributor of the film, advance ticket sales of ‘Hawa’ have already begun at Cineplex Entertainment in Canada and Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas in the United States.

“Bangladeshi cinema audiences in Canada and America are showing good interest in the film. It was unexpected but also a matter of great pride for our cinema as theatres abroad are selling tickets for ‘Hawa’ in multiplexes seven days in advance. People have already started buying tickets.

We are expecting that the film will do great at the international box office too,” said Sajib.

‘Hawa’ will be released in 25 halls of AMC, 40 of Regal/Cineworld, 34 of Cinemark, 11 of Cineplex, 4 screens of Harkins, 2 of Landmark and 1 hall of Showcase.