Another producer, Shouvo Rahman Rony, has submitted a memorandum to the Meherpur District Commissioner against popular producer and CEO of OTT platform Chorki, Redoan Rony, alleging professional harassment, intimidation and obstruction of work through media syndicates.
Shouvo, who claims he once worked as Redoan Rony’s assistant, said the issues date back to 2011. The memorandum alleges that since then, Redoan Rony has harboured a personal grudge against him and has excluded him from various Chorki projects.
However, speaking to the Times of Bangladesh, Redoan Rony said he had not received any formal complaint in this regard and would respond officially if one were lodged.
In his memorandum, Shouvo stated: “First of all, I want to make it clear that I have no personal dispute with Prothom Alo or Chorki. The problem started in 2011, when I was working as an assistant to Redoan Rony. Since then, he has been harbouring a clear personal grudge against me.”
Elaborating, he said, “Currently, since he holds an important position at Chorki, he is influencing the platform and those concerned, and instigating against me. As a result, I am continuously being deprived of various projects and work.”
Shouvo claimed that recently, at Redoan Rony’s invitation, he visited Chorki’s office with his father and a school friend, Kazi Mahmudul Hasan Shuvo — in an attempt to resolve old misunderstandings. However, he alleged that once there, Rony’s behaviour changed dramatically.
“They were kept under mental pressure for about three hours and threatened with indecent comments and false cases,” Shouvo said.
The memorandum further stated: “For 15 years, Redoan Rony has worn the Mujib coat, covering himself with the mask of the Liberation War and progress, and has moved among various government and private, even Indian (Kolkata), media circles. But just before August 5, his behaviour changed. The truth is that the opportunity-seeking Redoan Rony has changed his stance. Changing positions as needed has become his habit. The incident of an independent producer’s professional life being held hostage by an influential person is not a personal dispute, but an example of an individual-based syndicate in the media world.”
Shouvo has made three demands: an impartial investigation, steps to restore his professional status and work opportunities, and policy action against media syndicates. He said the memorandum had been submitted before pursuing legal action, and that he would soon elaborate at a press conference and on Facebook Live.
Redoan Rony’s response
When contacted for comment, Redoan Rony issued a written statement to the Times of Bangladesh that read: “I have not received any letter officially. I came to know about the matter from you. If I am asked for an official answer, then I can also give an official statement about these. I cannot say anything before that.”
“Incidentally, let me inform you that any producer can submit a story to Chorki; the content team selects or rejects the story based on its own process. Anyone can report any complaints regarding the matter through Chorki’s official channel,” the statement further read.