ZCZC
BSS-18
PM-FILM-2 DHAKA
Sheikh Hasina urged the people involved in film making to play a more responsible role in making cinemas as movies could contribute significantly to the development of the country and change people’s lot.
“It is possible to convey many things through a cinema, a drama, a story or a poetry which has great appeals to reach the hearts of the people rather that whatever I could say as a politician,” she added.
The Prime Minister said they have a space in hearts for the people of the cultural and literary arenas as her younger brother Sheikh Kamal was involved with drama while each of her family members got involved in the cultural and sports fraternities.
Briefly highlighting the measures taken by her government for the development of the film industry, she said her government is going to develop the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) at Kawranbazar in Dhaka and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Film City at Kabirpur with all the modern facilities so that the artistes could blossom their talents.
Besides, the works on constructing the BFDC Complex at a cost of Taka 323 crore is going on while the government has built Bangladesh Film Archive Bhaban under a project involving Taka 87 crore to preserve the old films in a proper manner, she continued.
The premier said her government has formulated the Film Societies (Registration) Act, 2011, the National Film Policy, 2017 and the Joint Venture Film Policy-2017 while censor related laws, rules and policies were formulated in view of further development of the country’s film industry.
She said that the cabinet division has already approved a bill on the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Welfare Trust Act, 2020 and it would be passed in parliament.
After the passage of the act, the government will give a seed money for the trust, she said and hoped the film related people will also contribute to the fund as the people involved in films as they can avail of money in their need for treatment and other purposes, she continued.
The Prime Minister greeted the award recipients and thanked all involved in the cultural sector as they have played a significant role to make the people aware about the adverse impact of the coronavirus and urged all to follow the health guidelines properly to stop further spread of the disease.
Recalling the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to establish Bangladesh film industry, she said, Bangabandhu first placed a bill titled “East Pakistan (mow Bangladesh) Film Development Corporation Bill on April 3 in 1957 when he was a minister.
After the independence of Bangladesh it was renamed as Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, she said.
The Prime Minister said acclaimed Indian director Shyam Benegal was entrusted with making a Bangladesh-India co-production of a feature film on the life and works of Father of the Nation, adding that the shooting was supposed to start in Bangladesh with local artistes, but it had not been possible due to the coronavirus. The shooting of the film is expected to start in Mumbai, she informed.
More/AHJ/GA/130 hrs