National Film Day celebrated

Bangladesh Film Development Corporation on Sunday celebrated National Film Day amid fanfare with various programmes after two years because of the pandemic situation.

April 3 was declared National Film Day in 2012 commemorating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s suggestion for the formation of a Film Development Corporation for East Pakistan in 1957.

A procession was brought out on the FDC premises marking the day where Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mokbul Hossain was present. Later they placed a wreath to the portrait of Bangabandhu there.

A discussion followed by an award ceremony was held at the Zahir Raihan Colour Lab of FDC.

Secretary Mokbul Hossain, BFDC managing director Nuzhat Yasmin, Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association president Khourshed Alam Khosru, Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association president Sohanur Rahman Sohan and Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association president Ilias Kanchan were present, among others.

Khasru said, “Though the cinema has been declared as an industry, but we didn’t get the slightest benefit from it. It’s been 10 years since the announcement of the industry, but it hasn’t had a single Statutory Rules and Order.”

Sohanur Rahman said, “The government has set up a fund of Tk 1 thousand crore for the construction and renovation of cinema halls. Besides, we demand allocation of Tk 200 crore for making films.”

“Cinema halls are being built or renovated, but if there is no cinema to exhibit then what will happen in renovated theatres,” he added.

At the event, Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association honoured director Piplu Khan for the film ‘Hasina: A Daughter’s Tale’ and director Md Nazrul Islam for the film ‘Chiranjib Mujib’.

There was an open-air exhibition of old movie posters in front of the FDC’s administrative building and the portion of the street was decorated with red-green festoons and balloons. But there was no mark of festivity in most of the FDC compound.

It was supposed to be a big celebration after a two-year of but nothing was seen. There was no movie personality in FDC but some of the administrative officers on the day.