After serving audiences for 47 years, the historic Mamata cinema hall in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, is set to be sold along with its land, marking the end of another chapter in Bangladesh’s shrinking single-screen cinema landscape.
Once home to more than 20 cinema halls, Narsingdi district had only two surviving theatres in recent years: Mamata in Madhabdi and Sohag in Ghorashal. Both had been struggling with declining audiences, a situation that worsened during the past two Eid seasons.
A sale notice has been hanging at the entrance of Mamata since this week, confirming that the property is now on the market.
Established in 1979 by Safar Ali Bhuiya, the cinema hall has a history spanning more than four decades. The owner stopped operating the venue about a decade ago, after which several tenants attempted to run the theatre. However, none were able to generate sustainable revenue, with operators reportedly struggling even to pay staff salaries.
The hall changed hands between multiple tenants over the years. Most recently, it screened Shakib Khan’s film ‘Rockstar’, directed by Azman Rusho. Following financial losses and a lack of interest from prospective operators, the owners decided to sell the entire property.
Speaking through the phone number listed in the advertisement, Shahadat Hossain, who manages the property on behalf of Safar Ali Bhuiya, said the notice was posted four days ago.
“If a suitable buyer is found, the entire 48-decimal property, including the cinema hall, will be sold,” he said.
The closure follows a broader decline in cinema halls across the district. In 2025, Runa cinema hall in Chalakchar Union of Monohardi upazila ceased operations after struggling to attract audiences since 2022. The venue had served local filmgoers for 39 years.
Earlier, Pipasha cinema hall in the same upazila had already closed, leaving Runa as the last surviving theatre in the area.
In 2024, the popular Chanda cinema hall in Hasnabad, Raipura, was sold to a madrasa, further highlighting the continuing decline of traditional cinema halls in the region.
