We did not make “Shonibar Bikel” just to air it abroad: Zahid Hasan

Renowned actor Zahid Hasan, one of the lead actors of the film Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's "Saturday Afternoon", has talked about the film's release and censor certificate debate on a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Thursday, demanding the right to the freedom of expression in Bangladeshi cinema and media content.

Recently, there has been an ongoing protest against the Film Censor Board not giving Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's "Saturday Afternoon" a clearance certificate.

"I feel hurt as an artiste, that my film is not getting censor board clearance still now. The film was screened in Russia. They were very impressed with the film and gave us compliments. Some people cried in the hall as well. Despite that, I cannot decipher what the problem is for a Bangladesh release," said the actor.  

"We work for the people of the country. We want to show our film to our people. We didn't make this film to show it abroad. Can't we have one chance to show the film in Bangladesh?" he added.

"Let the release of the film 'Shonibar Bikel' be allowed as soon as possible. Apart from this, the film 'Hawa' is also facing troubles under wildlife conservation laws. We have to find out who is behind all this, and why they are targeting the films that are helping the revival of the film industry," Zahid Hasan concluded.