DHAKA, Aug 15, 2020 (BSS)- Recalling the contributions of Bangabandhu to the making of the country’s film industry an effective media for social awakening, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today expressed optimism that the filmdom would not only get back its past golden time, but also occupy a dignified position in the global screenland.
He said the cinema industry of the country will be able to make a mark in the global motion-picture arena with the help of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), which was established by Bangabandhu.
The information minister came up with the views while addressing a discussion organized by BFDC in city’s Tejgaon area marking the National Mourning Day.
Earlier, Hasan placed floral wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on BFDC premises.
He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, realising the impact of films on society, had tabled a bill in the provincial assembly of the erstwhile East Pakistan for the establishment of Film Development Corporation (FDC) in 1957 and in continuation to that, the FDC was founded.
The information minister said a number of timeless cinemas were made and artists born through the FDC and the movies had played a role in building the movement of independence, struggle of freedom and building post-independent Bangladesh.
Hasan said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had awakened the unarmed Bangalees with the slogans ‘hold the arms, make Bangladesh independent’, ‘tomar amar thikana, Padma-Meghna-Jamuna’.
He said it was Bangabandhu who had established a nation state in the history of Bangalees for thousands of years. For this, he is the Father of the Nation and the greatest Bangalee of all times, he added.
The information minister said Bangabandhu had not only established an independent state, rather he rose the country’s GDP to 7.4 percent just after three years of independence, rehabilitated three million homeless people and made it (Bangladesh) self-sufficient in food.
“We have conquered the sea and land areas through the legal framework and won the ownership of oil and gas fields,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The information minister paid rich tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members who were brutally assassinated on the fateful night of August 15, the martyred four national leaders, and the martyred of the Liberation War.
Principal Information Officer (PIO) Surath Kumar Sarker, Bangladesh Television director general SM Harun-or-Rashid and Bangladesh Betar director general Hosne Ara Talukder, among others, addressed the meeting with BFDC director general Nuzhat Yeasmin in the chair.
Later, the information minister joined a meeting of Chalachitthra Paribar on FDC premises.
In the meeting, Hasan said the countrymen and the journalists as well demanded to unmask the kingpins who were behind the scene of the killing of Bangabandhu. “A commission should be constituted to unmask the masterminds behind the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to let the future generation know the history. Otherwise, the next generation will not know the real history,” he said.
Bangladesh Film Producers-Distributors Association President Khorshed Alam Khasru, Directors Association president Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, actresses Roziona, Dilara, Mowshumi, Apu Biswas and Nipun, actors Riaz, Omar Sunny, Shakib and Ananta Jalil and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote general secretary Arun Sarker Rana, among others, addressed the meeting.
Shilpi Samity president Misha Showdagar and other actors and actresses took part in the programme.