When Sheikh Hasina Led Government Lifted 50-Year-Old Ban On Bollywood Films In Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving prime minister in Bangladesh’s history, resigned and fled the country on Monday, bringing a tumultuous end to her 15-year rule as an extraordinary wave of protest succeeded in toppling her government. Hasina came to power in 2009 and made attempts to revive the country's severed ties with India.

One of her decisions was to lift the ban on the screening of Bollywood films in Bangladeshi theatres since the imposition of a ban in 1972, when the country gained its independence. The 50-year-old ban on the release ended in 2003 with Pathaan released on a grand scale in the country.

Why were Bollywood movies banned in Bangladesh?

In a bid to protect the local movie industry, films produced by Bollywood were banned from cinemas in Bangladesh since 1972. However, Hindi films were watched widely on cable TV. According to a report, the number of theatres had slid to 600 in 2010 from 1,600 in 2000 in the country with Bangladeshi films and soft-porn English-language films shown in movie houses failing to draw viewers.

For many stakeholders in the business of film distribution and exhibition, Hasina's government's decision promised the revival of the cinema-driven economy in the country. Moreover, the standards, scripts and production of Bangladeshi films were sub-standard and the low viewership reflected the same. On the other hand, pirated DVD copies of Bollywood movies circulate widely in Bangladesh.

What's the status of Bangladeshi film industry?

According to reports, at the time when the Bangladeshi film industry witnessed a downfall, some movie houses even switched to illegally showing pornography to try to remain viable. More than 1,000 shut their doors in the last 20 years, many of them to be converted to shopping centres or apartments.

Bangladeshi cinemas had gone into steep decline before the decision to lift the ban on the screening of Hindi films was taken by the government in 2023. Poor-quality local films were unable to match Bollywood's glitz and glamour or draw audiences. An ageing Shakib Khan was its only bankable star. The release of Pathaan was celebrated in the country and it ended up being one of the most commercially successful Hindi films in the country. 
 

(with inputs from news agencies)