The government has undertaken a project involving Taka 59.18 crore to expand and modernize the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) aimed at improving the quality of Bangla cinema.
“We have already declared film as an industry and the people related to the film industry are getting facilities of the industry,” Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor told the House yesterday, while replying to a question from treasury bench member Golam Dastagir Gazi during the question and answer session.
Noor, on behalf of the Information Minister, said the project would help producers for making digital cinemas, adding that the BFDC is also ready to provide all out support to entrepreneurs for making quality films and established Bangladesh Film and Television Institute to provide modern education to producers and new generation.
Apart from this, the government is giving financial support every year to encourage film producers for making creative and quality cinemas, he said.
The minister said the government is awarding a financial grant of Taka 35 lakh and providing service worth of Taka 10 lakh from the BFDC to make a full-length cinema, while Taka 10 lakh grant and service worth of Taka 2 lakh for short film.
The minister, however, told the House that the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) under the information ministry has also undertaken various initiatives to produce documentaries on important subjects.
As part of the DFP’s initiatives, the department started to make a documentary on the life and political activities of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said.
Besides, more documentaries are being produced on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman like ‘Chironjeeb Bangabandhu’ (Bangla and English), ‘Swadhinata Amar Swadhinata’, Bangabandhu’s speech at the first closing parade of Bangladesh Military Academy, ‘Sonali Dinguli’ (3.6 years of Bangabandhu’s regime, Bangla and English), Amader Bangabandhu (Bangla and English), Speech on March 7 (Bangla and English), documentary of ‘Unfinished Epic’ on ‘Bangabandhu’s unfinished memoirs’ and various subjects.
Noor said April 3 is being observed as National Film Day to flourish and expand quality cinemas along with providing facilities to film directors, producers and owners of cinema halls.