James, Miles sue Banglalink

Popular musician Mahfuz Anam James and rock band Miles have filed two separate cases against telecom operator Banglalink for breaching copyrights of their songs.

Rock legend James filed the lawsuit with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Kayes on Wednesday morning. Miles musicians Hamin Ahmed and Manam Ahmed also went to the same court and file their case around the same time. The accused in both cases are Banglalink’s Chief Executive Officer Erik Aas, Chief Compliance Officer M Nurul Alam, Chief Digital Officer Sanjay Vaghasia, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer Taimur Rahman, and Head of Value Added Services Anik Dhar. After accepting the cases on Wednesday, the judge summoned the Banglalink officials to appear before it on November 30. According to case details, Banglalink used the musicians’ multiple songs for various commercial purposes -- including Amar Tune service, ringtones and advertisements -- without obtaining permission from them from 2007-2021, amounting to a violation of copyright law. 

The songs by James Banglalink used include “Dukhini Dukkho Koro Na”, “Jikir”, “Lutpat”, “Susmitar Shobuj Orna”, “Iswar Ache”, and “Jar Jar Dhormo”, according to case details. On the other hand, the songs by Miles the telecom company has used include “Neela” and “Firiye Dao Amar Prem”. Both cases were lodged under Sections 71, 82 and 91 of the Copyright Act 2000. James had earlier appeared in court to sue Banglalink on September 19, but the court had refused to accept the case and suggested the singer go to Gulshan police station. He appeared in court once again on Wednesday as the police had declined to take the case.