Several prominent Bangladeshi filmmakers have challenged an explanation given by former Culture Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki over allegations of irregularities in a government-funded film project, calling his claims “untrue”.
The controversy follows an investigative report published by TIMES of Bangladesh on 8 March, which alleged abuse of power, favouritism and possible corruption in the process of awarding a contract to produce films for the July uprising memorial museum.
In a lengthy statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday afternoon, Farooki responded to parts of the report and other media coverage, defending the decision-making process behind the production of short films for the museum commemorating the July mass uprising.
According to the investigation, a contract worth around Tk5.23 crore was awarded to a company named Minhaz Trade International to produce 19 short films for the museum project.
Documents reviewed by TIMES along with accounts from people familiar with the process, suggest that the procurement process may have been structured in a way that enabled the contract to be awarded to that specific company.
Several sources told the newspaper that AH Khairul Anam Mila, described as a close family associate of Farooki, played a key role in securing the contract under the name of Minhaz Trade International.
Sources also said Mila has been seen with Farooki at various family events and private trips. Photographs and other evidence relating to their association are said to be held by the newspaper.
In his Facebook post, Farooki said a number of young filmmakers had worked on documentaries and television commercials for the culture ministry.
He named filmmakers including Anam Biswas, Krishnendu Chattopadhyay, Mahathir Spondon, Raka Noshin, Sadia Roza, Mahmudul Islam Adnan and Nazmul Nabin, describing them as “powerful young filmmakers”.
Farooki argued that finding filmmakers and investors willing to work on projects related to the July uprising had not been easy.
He said the ministry needed a vendor capable of coordinating filmmakers and maintaining the cash flow required to complete the project without disruption.
However, several figures in the film industry say Farooki’s explanation leaves key questions unanswered, particularly regarding how the filmmakers were selected.
Among those listed by Farooki, only Anam Biswas is widely known for directing a full-length feature film. Most of them are unknown.
Industry sources say that while such experience does not necessarily disqualify them from the project, it raises questions about why other prominent filmmakers were not considered.
The investigation found no evidence that the culture ministry issued an open call, competitive tender or other public process to select filmmakers or production companies for the project.
People familiar with the industry say many filmmakers in Bangladesh were struggling to find work at the time. Despite that, several prominent directors say they were never contacted about the project.
Speaking to TIMES, a number of well-known directors said they had not been offered the opportunity to work on films about the July uprising.
One of them is Director Shihab Shaheen who said he has never received such a proposal. “I did not get any offer like that. Those close to Sarwar received the work,” he added.
Filmmaker Amitabh Reza Chowdhury said he was in the United States during the period in question, working on the pre-production of another film.
Two other directors — Gias Uddin Selim and Raihan Rafi — also said they has not been contacted by the cultural ministry or any other government agency regarding the project.
Criticising the process more strongly, director Khandaker Suman said: “In reality, these projects did not happen through any open proposal. Those who had prior relationships and dealings with them received the work.”
“These were not made by established film directors. They were mostly produced by advertising filmmakers.”
Suman also alleged that some filmmakers had been given different types of benefits after being called in individually by the former culture adviser.
“It was essentially a system of ‘give and take’,” he said.
Director Tanim Noor said that when the films were being produced, his own film Utsab had just been released and he was busy promoting it. He later began shooting another project, Bonolota Express.
However, he said no one from the government contacted him about making films on the July uprising.
Filmmaker Nuhash Humayun said he had participated in a workshop organised by the Culturel Ministry for filmmakers in the Dhaka division.
According to Humayun, Farooki suggested that he submit a proposal for a film for the July memorial museum.
However, people close to Nuhash said he declined because the project required filmmakers to work through a third-party vendor rather than directly with the ministry.
