The Supreme Court lawyer who recently issued a legal notice seeking a ban on romance-centric content in local television dramas and cinema has found himself at the centre of an online debate. While his formal move to restrict romantic storylines sparked intense backlash from artists, directors, and viewers alike, internet users soon discovered a stark contrast between his official stance and his personal social media history.
Advocate Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan Mamun ignited widespread discussion after netizens unearthed archived posts from his personal Facebook profile revealing a deep appreciation for the very genres he is currently attempting to regulate. Rather than avoiding romantic or mature cinema, his profile history showcased active engagement with international feature films spanning romance, fantasy, and adult comedy.
According to his social media footprint, the lawyer shared a post on 5 August 2025 stating he was watching the Indian romantic drama film Radhe Shyam. A few months prior, on 9 May 2025, he posted about viewing the Hollywood romantic fantasy adventure Stardust. Beyond mainstream romance, his profile also highlighted the 2012 R-rated political satire comedy The Dictator, where he shared the official film poster alongside the caption “marvellous movie”. His travel history, including photographic posts standing before the historic Taj Mahal in New Delhi, also surfaced, drawing even more public attention to his digital footprint.
The revelation of these posts triggered a wave of criticism across social media platforms, with commentators questioning the consistency of his legal challenge. Critics have openly asked how someone who openly enjoys romantic and adult-themed international cinema can simultaneously campaign to prohibit local creators from producing similar narratives. While some social media users dismissed the legal notice as a stunt to grab headlines, others viewed it as an irony typical of public litigation. The lawyer has yet to issue any public clarification or formal response regarding the online discourse surrounding his viewing habits.
The controversy stems from a legal notice dispatched last Thursday in the public interest, addressed to key government figures including the cabinet secretary, the secretary of the ministry of information and broadcasting, the secretary of the ministry of cultural affairs, and the chairman of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board. The legal directive took sharp aim at the rising prevalence of romance, extra-marital affairs, and clandestine relationships depicted in domestic entertainment media.
According to the legal filing, the heavy focus on romantic plots threatens cultural balance while distracting students and youths from their education and future career development. The text argued that regular depictions of taboo relationships erode traditional family values and societal ethics, potentially fostering lawlessness and social decay. Citing specific provisions of the national constitution, the notice referenced Article 21(1) concerning duties towards the state, Article 23 regarding the preservation of national culture, and Article 39 which permits reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech in the interest of public morality and decency.
Rather than calling solely for restrictions, the formal notice also urged authorities to issue directives encouraging the production of educational, scientific, historical, liberation war, and defence-oriented programmes. The notice concluded with a ten-day deadline for administrative authorities to take tangible action, warning that failure to comply would result in a public interest writ petition being filed directly in the High Court under Article 102 of the constitution.
