Ulka, a long-running single-screen cinema hall at Gazipur Chowrasta, will close permanently in November as falling attendance, mounting losses and rising operating costs make it increasingly difficult to keep the business running.
Mohammad Rafiq Uddin, managing director of Ulka, confirmed the decision, saying ticket sales from current releases no longer cover even the hall’s electricity bills.
“The hall is struggling to survive. We are incurring losses continuously. The films currently screening cannot even cover the electricity bill,” he said.
Rafiq Uddin said films with strong stories and established stars still attract audiences. However, releases concentrated around the two Eid festivals cannot sustain a cinema hall throughout the year. He pointed to the audience response to films starring Shakib Khan, saying more releases featuring the actor outside the Eid seasons could help single-screen cinemas remain viable.
Unusually high electricity bills have added to Ulka’s financial pressure. With operating costs becoming unsustainable, the owners have decided to close the hall rather than continue accumulating losses.
Hall authorities said attendance has fallen sharply, with only a handful of people turning up for some screenings. Revenue can no longer cover staff salaries and routine operating expenses.
The closure comes as Kamruzzaman’s Sneher Bondhon continues its run at Ulka. Starring Joy Chowdhury and Mou Khan, the film opened in 14 cinemas on 16 October. Its promotional campaign included appearances on an open-roof bus in the capital, but reports from the exhibition circuit indicate that it has struggled to attract audiences.
Gazipur, an industrial district with a large working population, has seen its cinema-going options shrink over the years. Local industry sources say four cinemas operated in the district around a year to a year and a half ago. Ulka’s closure will further reduce access to relatively inexpensive big-screen entertainment.
After Ulka shuts down, only Barsha and Jhumur cinemas are expected to remain open in Gazipur. Both reportedly face financial difficulties, leaving the future of the district’s remaining single-screen venues uncertain.
