Film associations agree to release Indian films in Bangladeshi movie theatres

Several associations were against the idea of releasing Indian films in Bangladesh, until the pandemic brought about survival challenges for the film industry.

However, at a recent meeting, leaders of Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association, Bangladesh Hall Owners and Film Exhibitors Association and Bangladesh Film Directors Association reached a decision to screen Indian films in the country's cinema halls.

The meeting was attended by President of Bangladesh Film Directors  Association Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, General Secretary of the organisation Badiul Alam Khokon, President of Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association Khorshed Alam Khosru and General Secretary of the organisation Shamsul Alam, along with the Co-President of Bangladesh Hall Owners and Film Exhibitors Association Mia Alauddin and General Secretary of the organisation Awal Hossain Ujjal, among others.

Khorshed Alam Khorsu informed The Daily Star that the decision was taken, keeping the pandemic in mind. "We want to make it clear that we are taking this decision for the betterment of cinema halls during the pandemic," he said.

"After the pandemic is over, we will not release Indian films anymore. Local films are our highest priority. There will also be no foreign releases in major festivals, moving forward."

Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar stated that new policies are required before releasing Indian films. "We already have the permission of importing Indian films in the SAFTA agreement," he said. "We can bring both Bengali and Hindi films, but not throughout the year. For the time being, we have agreed to do this for one year," he said.

Mia Alauddin mentioned that most cinema halls in Bangladesh have been closed down permanently. "At the same time, it is true that we lack quality local content," he shared. "We want to bring newly released Indian and other foreign films in the country."