BANGLADESH

Information Minister held meeting with film stakeholders on OTT, govt grants

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today held a fruitful meeting with film producers, directors, artists and other stakeholders over the contemporary affairs of film, operating OTT platform, government grants to produce films and other issues.

The meeting was held at the official residence of the minister at Minto Road in the capital this afternoon.

Cultural personalities Morshedul Islam, Nasir Uddin Yousuf Bacchu, Tarique Anam Khan, Amitab Reza Chowdhury, SA Haque Alik, Afsana Mimi, Chanchal Chowdhury, Mezbaur Rahman Suman and Syed Gausul Alam, among others, were present at the meeting.

After the meeting, Hasan told reporters that currently some films bring audiences to cinema halls and ‘Hawa’ is one of them. But, a case was lodged against the director of the film, he added.

He said, “I was in abroad. But I talked with the concerned officials just after knowing the issue and step has been taken to withdraw the case. A show cause notice was given on behalf of the Forests and Environment Ministry to the official who lodged the case. The director could have been notified if there is a violation of law. I think, it is not appropriate to file case in the court directly.”

The minister said discussion was also held over another film named ‘Shanibar Bikel’.

He said the film was made based on the incident of Holey Artisan attack in Dhaka. Two police officers were killed in the incident and the law enforcers including police, RAB and army controlled the militants with great courage, he added.

But, he said, the censor board claimed that those issues didn’t come in the film and the board asked them (concerned film authority) to add the scenes.

About OTT (Over the Top) platform, the minister said it is an increasingly modern platform and it is a reality. “We want to promote it. But it is not possible to censor it as the platform is so vast. For this, it is necessary to conduct it through a policy,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

He said a committee has been formed and it is working on this issue.  The committee will finalize the policy through discussing all stakeholders, he added.

About the government grants in films, the minister said the film industry is now going to better. And audiences are back to the cinema halls while the number of halls increasing, he added.

He said the situation is also improving. The good old days of films are back and the industry is turning around, he said adding, the film industry would get back its golden days and capture a dignified position in the global screenland.

Nasir Uddin and others extended their thanks to the minister for taking steps even  he was in abroad.

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