Turkish historical series with religious morals expanding conscience of Bangladeshis

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Turkish historical mega-series conveying religious morals and justice are expanding the conscience of educated Bangladeshi youths and inspiring young filmmakers to produce quality films and series with moral lessons.

“I have discovered a huge change inside me after enjoying these series, and now I feel courageous and confident about our religion of Islam without any inferiority complex,” Mohammad Shahin, a student at Dhaka University, told Anadolu Agency.

Referring to his concept of Islam, Islamic values ​​, and religious morals, Shahin said that he had learned with clear examples how a state with religious morals and justice is established through long struggles and huge difficulties.

“I had a bit of theoretical knowledge about an Islamic state and Muslims' golden past. But after watching the Turkish mega-series, my understanding of those issues has been strengthened significantly.

“If you look at the comments of masses of people on social media on Turkish historical mega-series, you understand how people are being boosted with moral lessons,” he added.

Mohammad Abu Nayem, an honors student at the same university, told Anadolu Agency that the importance of being honest, sincere, intelligent, and patriotic has been growing among many university students through the Turkish series.

Echoing similar sentiments, another student at the university, Md. Shahriar Rokon, said conversations between Islamic spiritual leader Ibn al-Arabi and Ertugrul Gazi, the father of Ottoman Empire founder Osman Gazi, must inspire any educated person to study religion more and honor moral lessons.

“Using different verses from the Holy Quran in solving many complicated issues in domestic, social, and state affairs in the Turkish mega-series, especially in Dirilis Ertugrul (Resurrection: Ertugrul), is amazing and one can learn the importance of religious education,” Rokon said.

- Alternative entertainment

Hasanul Bari, a lecturer at the Journalism and Media Studies Department at Manarat International University in the capital Dhaka, told Anadolu Agency that Turkish mega-series are now the best family entertainment for millions of people in this Muslim majority country. They prefer to watch something that does not contain vulgar scenes and has a positive theme and lessons for them and their children. Turkish historical mega-series are meeting their expectations in this regard.

“While a large number of people in Bangladesh are addicted to films and series of a neighboring country that has content involving family crises, unethical affairs, and extra-marital relationships, Turkish historical mega-series have come like a blessing with the content of strong conscience and religious teachings,” Bari said.

He said that not only youths but also senior citizens and professionals like university teachers enjoy Turkish series and learning about the Muslim dynasties based on justice and Islamic rules.

“While many guardians are scared about the demoralization of their kids due to their addiction to digital games and harmful content of social media, they have accepted the Turkish series as alternative sources of entertainment.”

- Dream to produce Turkish-like series

Young filmmaker Rokanuzzaman Orko said a strong market for history movies and mega-series has developed in Bangladesh due to the spread of Turkish historical series.

“Ertugrul Gazi is now my favorite hero whom I did not know before enjoying the Turkish series. I wish to make such mega-series about the outstanding contribution of our historic religious leaders who spread religious and ethical lessons in this subcontinent,” he said.

He noted that despite the language barrier, millions of Bangladeshis including university students are enjoying Turkish mega-series through social media and other online platforms.

“As it's also a big business, series aired with subtitles through unauthorized platforms are blocked frequently. But people are enjoying those anyway. It means that many are consciously avoiding indecent content and are now being diverted to sound entertainment with religious and moral values,” he said.

Highlighting his study and research on film technology over the last decade, Orko noted that people from all walks of life, from top educated people to rickshaw-pullers, are enjoying Turkish series through various social media platforms with raw subtitles in Bengali.

“It means that field is ready for us to invest in films and mega-series on Muslim history and culture. But we must quality like Turkish series,” Orko said, adding such series should be produced in other countries as part of developing an ethically strong generation with government patronization as such high-quality production requires a huge budget.