Flora accused of pirating software

The Registrar of Copyright Office seized on Thursday some 69 laptops from Flora Telecom office for making pirated software.
A team, comprising personnel from law enforcement agencies, led by joint secretary of Cultural Affairs Ministry Monjurur Rahman, conducted the drive for two hours starting from 10:00 am at Flora's corporate office in Gulshan.
During the drive, RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) members arrested General Manager of Flora Telecom Hasib ul Alam and later handed over him to Gulshan Thana police.
Inspector Harun or Rashid of Gulshan Thana confirmed the news of arrest.  
A representative from Microsoft Bangladesh was present during the drive.
An official of the copyright office confirmed the information on the drive.
He said Flora has been pirating software of Microsoft for long. Being informed by Microsoft, they conducted the drive at Flora office.
He also said the copyright office is compelled to conduct drive if any person or organisation in the country reproduces any intellectual property of US companies illegally following the signing of TICFA (Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement).
The TICFA enabled the US companies to protect the intellectual property rights (IPR) in Bangladesh.
In November 2013, Bangladesh signed the much-talked-about TICFA with the US amid protests from the left-wing political parties.
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