Film associations thank Information Minister for his role for film development

Leaders of different film associations today extended their thanks and congratulations to Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud for taking various development steps for the industry and  providing grants to the commercial cinemas.

The leaders of Bangladesh Chalachitro Shilpi Samity, Chalachitro Parichalak Samity, Chalachitro Projojak o Paribeshok Samity, Chithragrahok Sangstha and Editor Guilds expressed their gratitude to the minister at a view exchange meeting with him at the meeting room of his ministry at Secretariat in the capital.

Joining the meeting, Shilpi Samity president Ilias Kanchan extended his thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking different pragmatic steps for the development of the country’s film industry.

He also thanked the Information and Broadcasting Minister, saying “We were afraid that the number of cinema halls would decrease significantly.

But, now the number of cinema halls has been increasing very fast due to the directives of the Premier and activities of the information and broadcasting minister and the people are going to halls again. The time-befitting decision of giving grants to the commercial cinemas has played a pivotal role to this end.”

Parichalak Samity president Sohanur Rahman Sohan said the persons who talked about to stop providing grants to commercial cinema, don’t they want the film industry to survive and people to go to the cinema halls! “But, we can see the proof that the life has come back again to cinema for the grant,” he added.

Projojak-Paribeshok Samity former Khorshed Alam Khasru said the commercial movies are the life of the country’s film industry and a place of entertainment of crores of people. The film industry would be developed more if the number of grant increases, he added.

In his speech, Hasan said the films of the country are moving ahead despite facing many adversities. A number of timeless cinemas were made and artists were born through the FDC and the movies had played a role in building the movement of independence, struggle of freedom and building post-independent Bangladesh, he added.

He said many films have achieved awards in the international arena and many films of the country are being screened in many countries including Europe and the USA.

He said once many cinemas which were produced by grant would not be released at cinema halls while many didn’t produce art films in spite of taking grant. The government is now taking steps and cases are being lodged against them, he added.

The minister said his ministry is giving importance to the commercial cinemas to protect the film industry. The art films and documentaries are also taking the grants, he added.

He said the amount of grants has increased two times and it is now Taka 20 crore while the amount of grant of a film is Taka 75 lakh which was Taka 30 lakh to 40 lakh only.

For this, he said, the number of cinema halls has also increased and the number is now 210 which was only 65. Besides, a special fund of Taka 1,000 crore has been formed under the directives of the Premier to provide loan with easy interest for constructing Cineplex, cinema halls, reconstruction of halls and renovation. The good days of the film industry have returned, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

Urging all to remain together, the minister said it is very important to provide grants to the commercial cinemas as per the global and COVID-19 pandemic situations.

He said the present government under the supervision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various initiatives for the industry (film) to bring back the golden days and to capture a dignified position in the global screenland.

Replying to a query over the Censor Board, Hasan said there has been a censor board since the birth of the film industry in Bangladesh and there must be a censor board. The ministry must ensure that the board does not do anything unnecessary, he added.

Later, the leaders of the associations met with Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain.

Chithragrahak Sangstha president Abdul Latif Bacchu, secretary general Asaduzzaman Maznu, member Syed Shahidullha Dulal, Editors Guild president Abu Musa Debu, Parichalak Samity vice president Chatku Ahmed, deputy secretary general Kabirul Islam Rana, Shilpi Samity vice president Riaz, actress Nipun Akther, Sanggeeta, Apu Biswas, Keya and Jesmin Mukta, among others, addressed the meeting.