Film can play a unique role in building a beautiful country, society and the world, said the Information and Broadcasting Minister Hassan Mahmud. He said that the time-honored films of this country have played a role in the freedom movement and post-independence nation building. At the same time, many things that the society and socialists do not think, they also come up through the film, show the way to the society.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the 20th Dhaka International Film Festival at the National Museum Auditorium in the capital on Sunday afternoon. Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director General of Shilpakala Academy and Khandaker Mashiuzzaman Rommel, President of Dhaka Club addressed the function as special guests.
The Minister congratulated the organizers for organizing the Dhaka Film Festival in spite of the adverse effects of the global corona epidemic. Dr Hassan Mahmud said, 'Film not only makes people cry, laugh or give joy, a good film shows the way to the country and society and opens the third eye of the society. Today, the world is very person-centered, people are becoming instruments themselves with the use of instruments, feelings, empathy seems to be disappearing. In this context, the film can play a role in ensuring that people are human, that people do not become instruments.’
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud expressed his gratitude to Bangabandhu for laying the institutional foundation of film in the country. He said, 'Our film journey started with the hand of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I am grateful to him. And under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have started working for the film industry to stand on its own two feet and for Bengali films to occupy a global place.’
The minister said, “An entrepreneur will get a loan of up to Tk 100 million by constructing a cinema hall, opening or modernizing an old hall and even constructing a Cineplex with a market at a dividend of 4.5 per cent outside the metropolitan area and 5 per cent in the metropolitan area. For this, a fund of Tk. 1000 crore has been formed on the instructions of the Prime Minister. The number and amount of annual grant from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for film production has also been increased. I hope the future will bring good days for our film industry.
The Dhaka International Film Festival, which started on January 15, has screened 225 films from around 70 countries at various places in Dhaka, including the National Museum, Public Library and Alliance Française. Minister distributed prizes in different sections at the closing ceremony.