Popular Bangla newspaper the daily Prothom Alo arranged a roundtable on the topic "Intellectual Property and Copyright Law" at its conference room on August 24. Renowned singers, lyricists and composers discussed on the present state of copyright law and its implementation in the audio industry.
Rasheda K. Chowdhury, advisor to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, was present as the chief guest, while Motiur Rahman, editor of the daily Prothom Alo was the moderator of the roundtable.
Speakers claimed at the roundtable that at present, several TV channels, FM radio stations, cell phone companies and web sites are using songs for their benefit without notifying the proper "owners" (lyricists, composers and artistes) of the songs. As a result, respective parties are being cheated of their royalties.
Lyricist Gazi Mazharul Anwar said, "In our country, when a song is aired on the TV or radio, most often only the singer's name is mentioned. In most cases, lyricists and composers remain anonymous to the audience, which is unfortunate."
Prominent composer Alam Khan said, "Every week, several TV channels air lots of musical programmes based on film soundtracks. But in most of the cases they mention only the name of films and filmmakers. Several times I made suggestions that they should also mention the lyricists and composers but in vain. My composition Orey neel dariya (sung by Mohammad Abdul Jabbar in Sareng Bou) has been downloaded over ten million times so far without any legal permission."
Renowned singer Runa Laila said, "Several years ago I went to United States to perform at concerts. At one programme, I rendered a song of noted American artiste Joan Baez. But before performing the song I had to take proper authorisation from her."
Runa Laila also stressed on giving the artistes proper honour. She said, "Every year, several artistes receive different national awards. But after getting the awards, they are overlooked."
Popular singer-musician Ayub Bachchu said, "It is unfortunate that we had to arrange a fundraiser concert for an artiste like Abdur Rahman Boyati. If the artistes received their due royalty they wouldn't have to be in situations like this.”
In her speech Rasheda K. Cowdhury said, "The government has taken several short and long term plans to implement the copyright law. Within September this year, a new copyright office will be allotted." She also said, "We have to renew few rules from the present copyright law."
The present copyright law was made in 2000 and renewed in 2005.
Among others, singers -- Khurshid Alam, Syed Abdul Hadi, Kumar Bishwajit, Rafiqul Alam, Abida Sultana, Andrew Kishor, Shuvro Dev, Samina Chowdhury, Fahmida Nabi, Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna, Farida Parvin, Momtaz and Bappa Majumder; lyricists -- Mohammad Rafiquzzaman, Kawsar Ahmed Chowdhury, Moniruzzaman Monir and Prince Mahmud; composers -- Alauddin Ali, Sheikh Sadi Khan and Lucky Akhand spoke at the programme.
Major General (rtd) Manzurul Alam, chairman, BTRC; M.A. Shah Mahmudul Hasan, registrar of Copyright Office; WIPO consultant and member of Copyright Board, poet Nurul Huda; Barrister Modassir Hossain, Sanaullah Lavlu of ABC radio and Mahmudur Rahman, Rashek Rahman -- both from Software Solution and Logistic Enterprise (SSLE) -- were also present at the roundtable.