The Bangladesh Film Certification Board has suspended the certification of ‘Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka’ following allegations that unauthorised scenes and songs were added after the film received official approval.
The development was confirmed in 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 alleged that uncertified scenes and songs had been inserted into the version released in cinemas. It also claimed that smoking and drug-use warning texts in the approved copy had been altered and displayed using non-compliant printable fonts.
Among the objections raised was the inclusion of the song sequence ‘Tomake Chhara’ and graphic scenes depicting indiscriminate machete killings in a desert setting in India.
The notice further stated that several scenes previously removed by the board had been reinserted into the released version. These included visuals showing a hand being severed with a machete, a throat-slitting scene, and sequences featuring what the board described as “indecent and distasteful” costumes and gestures by female characters.
Directed by Abu Hayat Mahmud, the film was released nationwide on March 21 for Eid-ul-Fitr.
Produced by Shirin Sultana, the cast includes Shakib Khan, Tasnia Farin and Jyotirmoyee Kundu in key roles.
The film was released in 133 cinema halls across the country.
