Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud held meetings with film stakeholders, directors, artists, and other artists over the contemporary affairs of film, operating the OTT platform, government grants to produce films, and other issues.
Hasan Mahmud held meetings with film stakeholders on OTT, and govt grants: The meeting was held at the official residence of the minister at Minto Road in the capital this afternoon.
Cultural personalities Morshedul Islam, Nasir Uddin Yousuf Bacchu, Tarique Anam Khan, Amitab Reza Chowdhury, SA Haque Alik, Afsana Mimi, Chanchal Chowdhury, Mezbaur Rahman Suman, and Syed Gausul Alam, among others, were present at the meeting.
After the meeting, Hasan told reporters that currently some films bring audiences to cinema halls and ‘Hawa’ is one of them. But, a case was lodged against the director of the film, he added.
He said, “I was abroad. But I talked with the concerned officials just after knowing the issue and steps have been taken to withdraw the case. A show cause notice was given on behalf of the Forests and Environment Ministry to the official who lodged the case. The director could have been notified if there is a violation of the law. I think it is not appropriate to file a case in court directly.”
The minister said the discussion was also held over another film named ‘Shanibar Bikel’.
He said the film was made based on the incident of the Holey Artisan attack in Dhaka. Two police officers were killed in the incident and the law enforcers including police, RAB, and army controlled the militants with great courage, he added.
But, he said, the censor board claimed that those issues didn’t come in the film and the board asked them (concerning film authority) to add the scenes.
About OTT (Over the Top) platform, the minister said it is an increasingly modern platform and it is a reality. “We want to promote it. But it is not possible to censor it as the platform is so vast. For this, it is necessary to conduct it through a policy,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
He said a committee has been formed and it is working on this issue. The committee will finalize the policy by discussing all stakeholders, he added.
About the government grants in films, the minister said the film industry is now going to be better. And audiences are back to the cinema halls while the number of halls increasing, he added.
He said the situation is also improving. The good old days of films are back and the industry is turning around, he said adding, that the film industry would get back its golden days and capture a dignified position in the global screenland.
Nasir Uddin and others extended their thanks to the minister for taking steps even though he was abroad.
See more: