‘Ghotona Shotto’ sparks allegations of insensitivity towards children with special needs

Ghotona Shotto stars Afran Nisho and Mehazabien Chowdhury.

Eid special tele-fiction, "Ghotona Shotto", directed by Rubel Hasan and released under the banner of Central Music and Video (CMV), has enraged audiences -- allegedly due to its insensitivity towards children with special needs.

The story of "Ghotona Shotto" follows a couple who deceive people around them. Towards the end, it is shown that they have a child with special needs. In one scene, the couple wonders if the condition of their child is a result of their misdeeds.

The fiction stars actors Mehazabien Chowdhury and Afran Nisho.

Many condemned the message portrayed in "Ghotona Shotto", raising questions about the sensitivity of the makers towards the topic of children with special needs. The fiction has been taken down from CMV's YouTube channel. The cast and crew have also publicly apologised across social media.

"The needed correction is being made to the content. We would like to send our love and support and apologies to every parent and child with special needs and promise to make content in future that spread the right message and direct the audience towards the right path," read a part of their joint statement.

Key members of the Child Foundation also addressed the issue in a live video on Facebook. "It is our duty to provide a safe environment for children with special needs. The makers of 'Ghotona Shotto' have conveyed a wrong message, without clarifying their intention. Not only as parents, but as a community, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of children with special needs," they noted.

"We had no intention of hurting anyone's sentiments. We needed to be careful about our storytelling. This has been a lesson. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the audience, and convey our honest apology," director Rubel Hasan said to The Daily Star. "For now, we are going to remove the insensitive parts entirely and re-release the show. In the future, we will definitely be more careful."