Security at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in Dhaka has come under renewed scrutiny after a series of thefts and security incidents involving artists and media workers, with actress Tanha Tasnia Islam raising concerns over non-functional CCTV cameras following the theft of her iPhone.
BFDC is one of the country’s main film production hubs, where hundreds of artists, technicians, directors and producers work daily on films, dramas and advertisements. The premises also house several professional organisations linked to the film industry.
According to Tanha Tasnia Islam, the latest incident occurred on 15 May while she was dubbing the documentary Ostitter Lorai, directed by Gazi Mahbub, at the BFDC Sound Complex. She said a man entered the dubbing room between 7:00 pm and 7:15 pm claiming to be the driver of actor Joy Chowdhury and left with her orange iPhone 17 Pro Max. It was later discovered that the individual had used a false identity.
Speaking to Times of Bangladesh, she said she filed a general diary with police, who requested CCTV footage. However, BFDC authorities were unable to provide footage from the relevant time period.
“Footage was available only up to 12 noon on the day of the incident. There was no footage after that, and most of the 28 cameras were out of order. How can security be ensured in this way?” she said.
She added that the server had reportedly been inactive for a long period, leaving most cameras non-functional, which she described as alarming for an important state institution.
Industry figures say the incident is part of a broader pattern of security failures at BFDC.
In 2022, actress Aruna Biswas reported the theft of her bag and two mobile phones. In 2023, actress Tasnia Farin had an iPhone 14 Pro stolen from a shooting set. There were also reports of attacks on journalists in 2024 and vandalism in 2025.
Film professionals allege that unrestricted entry by outsiders, weak security and inadequate surveillance have allowed such incidents to recur without effective preventive measures. Although the entrance area is officially described as being under CCTV monitoring, many cameras are reportedly not functioning.
Actor couple Naeem and Shabnaz had previously expressed reluctance to visit BFDC because of security concerns. They said uncontrolled video recording and misleading online content often make artists uncomfortable, and called for stronger security arrangements.
BFDC Managing Director Masuma Rahman Tani described the incidents as unfortunate.
“In most cases, those involved in the thefts entered the premises by identifying themselves as members of shooting units. Following the incidents, most of the problems related to CCTV cameras and servers have been resolved,” she said.
She noted that BFDC covers 7.63 acres in Tejgaon and includes nine shooting floors, of which six are currently operational, along with a digital building, sound complex and administrative facilities.
However, only eight security personnel are assigned to the entire premises, with seven currently on duty. They work in two 12-hour shifts, which she acknowledged leaves gaps in security coverage.
To strengthen security, BFDC has applied to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the outsourcing recruitment of seven additional security guards and seven cleaners. She expressed hope that increasing manpower would improve the overall security situation.
