In 1997, Antar Showbiz organized an event named 'HOT SUMMER NIGHT' at Dhaka Stadium [now Bangabandhu National Stadium], which ultimately did not take place, thus deceiving thousands of people, who purchased tickets for the show. It was even learnt at that time that, Ontor Showbiz started selling tickets for this show even without making any booking of the Dhaka Stadium. Warrant of arrest was issued against Swapan Chowdhury, owner of Antar Showbiz following this incident and police raided his residence at Silver Apartment at Eskaton area. The HOT SUMMER NIGHT program ultimately did not take place and it was never learnt whether the people, who purchased tickets, got their money back or not.
Now the same Swapan Chowdhury and his Antar Showbiz is back with another program titled Shah Rukh Khan Night, which is scheduled to take place on December 10, 2010 at Army Stadium in Dhaka.
According to information, Antar Showbiz is selling 12,000 tickets priced at TK. 25,000, TK. 10,000, TK. 5,000 and TK. 3,000. A total amount of TK. 6,60,00,000 will be collected from the sale of tickets by the organizers. The organizers are neither paying any amusement tax nor any Valued Added Tax for such huge amount of money collected from the sale of tickets of the show. According to latest information, almost 75 per cent of the tickets are already sold.
The organizers have already paid US$ 25,000 to Shah Rukh Khan as advance amount of his remuneration for participating in the program, while they will pay him an additional amount of US$ 75,000 when he will arrive in Bangladesh. The organizers did not take any permission from the Foreign Exchange Control Department of Bangladesh Bank for remittance of such huge amount of foreign currency, nor there is any permission sought by the organizers from the Income Tax as well as VAT departments of Bangladesh government.
It is learnt from a reliable source that, Anti Corruption Commission in Bangladesh has also started investigating this gross irregularity and Shah Rukh Khan may even be questioned about the total amount he received from the organizers in foreign currency for participating in the Shah Rukh Khan Night in Bangladesh.
An event management organization in India told Weekly Blitz that, Shah Rukh Khan generally charges US$ 100,000-150,000 for any such shows in the world. Moreover, the organizers are required to pay his air passage as well as all other expenses in the host country.
On the other hand, though the organizers are publicizing in Bangladesh that Bollywood actor Rani Mukherjee will also arrive in the same team with Shah Rukh Khan, there is no such indication from the office of Ms. Rani Mukherjee about her visit to Bangladesh to participate in the show. The organizers are also publishing Rani Mukherjee's picture in the most humiliating matter, thus placing her in the category of mere third ranking artistes.
The organizers have also paid significant of money to Indian artistes Arjun Rampal, Isha Koppikar, Shefali Zariwala, Ganesh Hedge and Neeraj Shridkar. According to initial estimation, Antar Showbiz has already smuggled out a significant amount of foreign currency for paying advance amount to the Indian artistes, including Shahrukh Khan, while the remaining balance will also be paid in the same manner.
Though some Bangladeshi government is giving special encouragement in organizing programs of Indian artistes in Bangladesh since 2009, there is no sign from India in even allowing satellite based Bangladeshi television channels in their country. Indian government continues ban on allowing any channel from Bangladesh or Pakistan to their households, while Indian channels are earning millions of dollars from Bangladesh every year.
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