Fans of actor Shakib Khan staged a human chain in front of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board today, demanding the uncut release of the upcoming Eid film "Borbaad".

Today, around 12pm, a group of Shakib Khan admirers—known as "Shakibians"—gathered with banners and placards, urging the board to clear the film without conditions. The protestors called for the immediate release of "Borbaad", which is currently awaiting certification.

On Monday (March 24), it was reported that the film had faced objections from the Censor Board due to scenes containing excessive violence. The news prompted widespread reactions on social media, with fans announcing the human chain later that night.

During the afternoon demonstration, Shakib Khan's fans questioned why scenes from "Borbaad" needed to be cut, even after the Censor Board was restructured into the Certification Board. They demanded that the film be cleared under the grading system without any cuts.

They further pointed out that while an adult film titled "Vhoyal" was granted certification a few months ago, "Borbaad", which contains no such content, was still being asked to make edits. 

Raising concerns over this, the Shakibians demanded that "Borbaad" be certified under the appropriate grade without censorship.

Placards held by protestors read slogans such as "One point, one demand: release 'Borbaad'," while others chanted, "Spread the word, bury the censor board!"

Tamim, a fan who came from Uttara, said, "While global cinema has progressed so far, the behaviour of our certification board is holding Bangladeshi films back." 

He added that although protests were held last July against discrimination, "Borbaad" is now facing discriminatory treatment at the hands of the board.

Another Shakibian stated that while the government is inviting foreign investors to Bangladesh, many are showing interest in coming here. Similarly, the producer of "Borbaad" has also invested in the country, making it as his debut film. 

However, even before its release, he is facing various forms of non-cooperation. "Will he still want to make films in this country?" the protestor asked. "That is why we have united—to demand an uncut clearance for "Borbaad" and to ensure such incidents do not happen again."

Shakib fans further claimed that such issues often arise specifically around the release of Shakib Khan's films in Bangladesh. "These actions are part of a conspiracy to suppress our megastar," said a protestor.

"But we, the Shakibians, will never allow such plans to succeed. Today we are standing in front of the Certification Board. If our demands are not met, we will go on a hunger strike," it added. 

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"Borbaad" is directed by Mehedi Hasan Hridoy and produced by Shahrin Akter Sumi. The film features performances by Misha Sawdagor, Jisshu, Idhika, Shahiduzzaman Selim, and Mamunur Rashid, among others.