Desk Report:
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that the film industry will be taken to new heights on the basis of national consensus and transparency. He said that the government wants to repair the state and society in a new way and for that purpose, it is considering the creative sector, including films, as an important force for national development.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘National Film Parliament Conference 2026’ at the Bangladesh Film Archive Auditorium in Agargaon in the capital on Saturday (May 16, 2026). The program was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies and Bangladesh Film Archive.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister said that the creative industry, including films, is an important ‘soft power’ for civilization and it is the responsibility of artists, producers and creative people to enrich this power. He said that the government wants to take decisions based on the opinions of the stakeholders and national consensus at every stage of the film industry. He also commented that high-quality creative production is not possible without effective connections with experts in policy-making.
Regarding the reform of the film sector, he said that the newly formed Film Certification Board and Jury Board have been welcomed by people from all walks of life in the film industry, which is a great moral force for the government. He said that although there were many controversies regarding the formation of these boards in the past, this time the concerned have supported the new board without any controversy.
Zahir Uddin Swapan said that a proposal has been sent to the Finance Ministry to increase the amount of grants for films in the next fiscal year’s budget. He also said that effective steps will be taken to quickly release the grants and complete the production of films within the stipulated time.
Citing the decrease in the number of cinema halls as one of the biggest crises in the film industry, the minister said that the government has taken special initiatives to sustain and modernize single cinema halls.
Industry critic and film expert Moinuddin Khaled was given a lifetime achievement award at the event.
Among others, Dr. Zahirul Islam Kochi and Director General of Bangladesh Film Archive M. Javed Iqbal were present.
