The decline in the number of cinema halls is one of the biggest crises facing the film industry, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said on Saturday.
He also said that the government has taken special initiatives to modernise single-screen cinema halls.
The government wants to rebuild the state and society in a new way, and in that vision, it considers film and other creative sectors as important forces for national development, he added.
He made these remarks as chief guest at the inaugural session of the National Film Society Conference 2026, held on Saturday at the Bangladesh Film Archive auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka. The event was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies and the Bangladesh Film Archive.
“We have not come to power just for the sake of power; we have said that things cannot go on like this. The state and society must be rebuilt anew,” he said.
Describing film and creative industries as vital “soft power” for civilisation, he added, “It is the responsibility of artists, filmmakers, and creative individuals to enrich this strength.”
“The government wants to make decisions in the film industry at every stage based on the opinions of stakeholders and national consensus,” the minister added.
On reforms in the film sector, the minister said, “The newly formed Film Certification Board and Jury Board have been welcomed by people across the film community, which is a major moral strength for the government. In the past, the formation of such boards was often controversial, but this time stakeholders have supported the new boards without dispute.”
He also informed that a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Finance to increase the allocation for film grants in the upcoming budget. Additionaly, strict measures will be taken to ensure quick disbursement of grants and completion of film production within the stipulated time, he added.
At the event, art critic and film scholar Moinuddin Khaled was awarded a lifetime honour.
Zahidul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies; and M Javed Iqbal, director general of the Bangladesh Film Archive were present among others.
