Individuals can’t own historical images, photos of Bangabandhu, Liberation War: HC

The High Court today ruled that copyrights of historical images, photos of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Liberation War of Bangladesh cannot be owned by any individual.

The state and its people are their owners, the court said, adding that if anyone uses historical images or photos of Bangabandhu and the Liberation War in publications, he or she must mention the sources with acknowledgement.

The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman issued the ruling following a writ petition seeking necessary directives.

Details of the High Court verdict could not be known as its full text was not released yet.

Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman submitted the writ petition to the HC on August 31 last year claiming that Nazmul Hasan, owner of Journey Multi Media and Swadhika, has reportedly attempted to misappropriate money by changing copyright and intellectual property rights of the books "Bangabandhu Maanei Bangladesh" and "3053 Din".

The books were published for the Bangabandhu Book Corners at all primary schools across the country, the petition said.

Nazmul Hasan's lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque told The Daily Star that there is no legal bar for his client to deliver the books, which were published using images or photos of Bangabandhu and the Liberation War with acknowledgement, following the HC verdict.