Director Raihan Rafi’s latest web film, “Amalnama”, premiered on Charki on March 12, sparking a wave of controversy online since its debut on the OTT platform.
A scene in the web film depicting the murder of former Teknaf Municipality Councillor Ekramul Haque, who was brutally executed in a so-called gunfight in 2018, has sparked significant discussion and criticism.
Now, the late councillor’s widow, Ayesha Begum, has entered the fray, threatening defamation lawsuits against Raihan Rafi and Prothom Alo for linking the film to her husband’s story.
In a fiery Facebook post accompanying a Prothom Alo photo card on Sunday, Ayesha Begum fired back: “Rafi claims ‘Amalnama’ is fiction, crafted from his imagination, not based on any real event. Yet you’re shaming us, calling it my husband’s story. Ekramul was no drug dealer—he fought against drugs and was brutally murdered in a planned attack. Today, you’re distorting this film as his truth.”
Issuing an ultimatum, she said, “If Raihan Rafi claims that this movie is based on the real story of Ekramul Haque, and then I will be forced to file a defamation case against him. And I will tell Raihan Rafi to make it clear to everyone that this movie has nothing to do with the real story of Ekramul Haque.”
Ayesha didn’t stop at Rafi. She directed her anger at Prothom Alo, accusing the outlet of spreading the false narrative: “You’ve branded this as Ekramul’s real story, humiliating me and my two daughters before the nation. Everyone knows he was innocent, killed unjustly for standing against drugs. Admit your mistake—or we’ll sue. Say it now: this has no connection to Ekramul Haque.”
Referring to Prothom Alo, she added, “I will tell Prothom Alo that what they have published is a mistake, and if they do not admit it, my two daughters and I will be forced to file a defamation case against them. I urge Prothom Alo to immediately clarify publicly that this incident has no connection to the case of Ekramul Haque.”
Meanwhile, Ayesha Begum’s post was also noticed by investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer.
He shared the post and wrote, “Ayesha Begum’s allegations are serious. I hope Raihan Rafi and Prothom Alo will clearly address the issue and provide a proper explanation.”
Mentionable, three-time councillor Ekramul Haque was killed in a ‘crossfire’ during an anti-drug operation by RAB at Noakhalipara on Teknaf Marine Drive Road in Cox’s Bazar on the night of May 26, 2018.
At a press conference in Cox’s Bazar on May 31 of that year, Ayesha Begum described the murder as a cold-blooded killing and demanded a judicial investigation into the incident.
At the programme, she also provided journalists with an audio clip of a conversation recorded on his cell phone during the crossfire, which sent shockwaves throughout the country.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
