The scheduled screening of the film Bonolota Express in Brahmanbaria has been postponed following opposition on social media, with local authorities saying the situation requires further assessment before the event can proceed.
The film was slated to be screened on Saturday at Annada Government High School in Brahmanbaria as part of Eid-ul-Azha celebrations. The event was organised by Brahmanbaria Film Society, a student-led organisation comprising undergraduate students from various educational institutions in the district.
However, shortly after the screening was announced, a section of social media users began campaigning against the event, urging authorities not to allow the film’s exhibition. The issue soon sparked widespread discussion and criticism online.
Speaking to the media on Friday evening, Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Abu Sayeed said the matter had evolved into a national issue due to the ongoing online debate.
“The screening issue has now become a national matter. Those posting on Facebook against the film are expressing various grievances. Under the circumstances, allowing the screening tomorrow would not be appropriate. Therefore, it has been suspended for now. A decision will be made later based on the situation,” he said.
The Brahmanbaria Film Society has long been involved in promoting cinema through its regular film screening initiative titled Bhatghumer Cinema Adda. The organisation had planned to include Bonolota Express in its Eid programme this year.
Reacting to the controversy, filmmaker Tanim Noor said he was initially delighted when members of the film society from his hometown contacted him seeking permission to screen the film.
“A few days ago, a young member of the Brahmanbaria Film Society reached out and informed me that they wanted to screen the film. I was very happy,” he said.
However, he later noticed social media posts calling for the screening to be stopped.
“According to the laws of Bangladesh, any film that has received censor approval can be screened anywhere. Yet some people are circulating posters marked with cross signs and using extremist language. They have no right to do that. It is completely illegal,” the filmmaker added.
On Saturday, Tanim Noor also addressed the issue in a Facebook post, arguing that the screening of a censored film cannot be prohibited by labelling it as inappropriate.
“Cinema exhibitions are not banned in Bangladesh. No one can stop a censored film by simply branding it as obscene,” he wrote.
The director further called for a larger-scale screening of Bonolota Express in Brahmanbaria in the near future and urged authorities to take legal action against those allegedly threatening to create unrest over the event.
He warned that if such incidents go unaddressed, they could set a troubling precedent for film screenings in other districts across the country.
