Indian movies and Bangladeshi TV channels

by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
May 21, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/743/indian-movies-and-bangladeshi-tv-channels

Bangladeshi commerce minister Lt. Col. Faruk Khan was at the forefront of recent enthusiasm of the ruling government in allowing import of Indian films for projecting in various cinema halls in the country. The order was duly passed by the government and a number of local film distributors quickly opened letter of credit for importing Indian movies. Finally, the matter was put of pause, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave verbal instructions during cabinet meeting to stop the import of Indian films, after she realized that, this decision was greatly condemned by the people of the country as well as members of Bangladeshi cinema industry. Though the process is on pause, the government has not yet cancelled the order of importing Indian films, as the Prime Minister is yet to give any written instruction in this regard.

Right after the decision of the Commerce Minister is allowing import of Indian films, film producers, directors, actors and technicians of Bangladeshi film industry came on street condemning such ridiculous decision. They said this decision of allowing Indian movies to be shown in Bangladesh will only destroy the entire cine industry in the country.

Reviewing an import policy, the government allowed import of films from India and other South Asian countries. Industry people say Bangladesh's already-ailing film industry, popularly dubbed as Dhallywood, will be devastated if the decision comes into effect.

It may be mentioned here that, importing Indian films is banned in Bangladesh since the independence of the country under the directive of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh Chalachchitra Oikya Parishad, a platform of the local film industry, organised the protest on the premises of the Film Development Corporation [FDC].

They said the government had taken this decision without consulting the industry insiders. Hundreds of Bangladeshi film producers, directors, actors and actresses Monday came down to the premises of the Film Development Corporation in Dhaka, held demonstrations and vowed to resist exhibition of Indian movies across the country. The Bangladesh Chalachitra Oikya Parisad, a combine of film related organisations, staged the demonstration protesting the government's decision to lift ban on import of Indian films. Eleven-film related organisations including Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association, Bangladesh Film Directors' Association, Film Artistes Association, Bangladesh Film Editors' Guild, Bangladesh Cinematographers' Association, Bangladesh Film Dancers Association, Cine-Directorial Associates of Bangladesh participated in the demonstration under the newly formed Chalachitra Oikya Parisad.

Terming the move a conspiracy, Chalachitra Oikya Parisad convenor Mizu Ahmed said, "This decision will create an unequal competition in Bangladesh's film industry as the budget of Indian films is much bigger than that of us".

"The cinema owners are behind the conspiracy and they have provided the government with wrong information that the number of films released annually from the FDC is too small", said Mizu Ahmed who also is the president of Film Artistes Association.

Film director Chashi Nazrul Islam said lifting of ban on import of Indian films will be suicidal for the Bengali culture.

Film director Uttam Akash blasted government's decision in allowing Indian films to be shown on Bangladeshi cinema halls. He said, this decision will not only destroy the future of our film industry but will also place huge number of cine producers, who already have invested millions of Taka in films into total risk.

While Bangladeshi commerce minister was enthusiastic in lifting the ban on importing Indian movies, Indian government is reluctant in removing the ban on allowing Bangladeshi television channels to be shown in their country. According Indian government's policy, only TV channels of enemy nations are barred to be shown in their country.

On the other hand, though India is continuing ban on Bangladeshi TV channels, huge number of Indian channels are regularly shown through cable networks in Bangladesh and a number of Indian pay channels are earning a few hundred million dollars every month as subscription fee for showing these channels in Bangladesh.

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