Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday held a fruitful view-exchange with cinema hall owners on proper utilisation and facilities of the government's Tk 1,000 crore refinance scheme for construction of new cinema halls and renovation.
The ministry arranged the meeting at Tathya Bhaban in the city's Kakrail area while over 100 cinema hall owners and entrepreneurs from across the country joined it, said a press release.
After the discussion while addressing as the chief guest, Hasan expressed his optimism that it is possible to open several hundred cinema halls across the country within one and half or two years through constructing cineplex and cinema halls at every district and upazila by getting soft loan facilities from the scheme.
"We want our film industry to take place in the world arena," he said.
Describing film as a huge part of culture, the minister said film or expansion of cinema halls is conducive to protect society from derailment.
He said the film industry can plan a significant role in saving the young generation from drug addiction and militancy.
During the meeting, cinema hall owners described the formation of Tk 1,000 crore refinance scheme as a groundbreaking step in reviving the country's film industry.
Bangladesh Film Exhibitors' Association (BFEA) chief advisor Sudipta Kumar Das underscored the need for enhancing standard and number of films for reviving cinema halls.
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Makbul Hossain chaired the meeting while Additional Secretary Faruq Ahmed, BFEA General Secretary Awlad Hossain, Film Development Corporation Managing Director Nuzhat Yasmin, Film Censor Board Vice-Chairman Muhammad Saifullah, representatives of Bangladesh Bank and Sonali Bank, Rupali Bank, Janata Bank, UCB Bank, Meghna Bank, BDBL and Union Bank joined it.
On approval of the prime minister, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry requested Bangladesh Bank to form a special scheme for Tk 1,000 crore in February and March last year.
In view of the request, Bangladesh Bank formed the scheme and issued two notifications asking all scheduled banks to provide a maximum Tk 10 crore loan in constructing new cineplex or cinema halls and maximum Tk 5 crore in renovating halls to each owner and entrepreneur.
The repayment period of the loans will be eight years. Interest rate is 5 per cent for metropolitan areas and 4.5 per cent for outside the metropolis.
