There was a time when movie theatres used to multiply Eid joys for most "Chatgaiya" families.

The port city residents would often set off to dive into a cinematic experience with friends or loved ones to relish a moment for themselves after a tiring day of festivities and responsibilities.

"On the first or second eve of Eid, we would set off in crowds to cheer Ajim-Sujata, Rahman-Shabnam and Razzak-Kabori as they appeared on the silver screen," recalled Abdul Hamid, a 60-year-old resident of Panchlaish area.

Over 30 movie theatres were running in full swing in the city during the late 1900s.

"The halls used to compete over good movies while we had to fight our way up the queue to get tickets. To further draw movie-buffs, the theatres would be beautifully decorated with coloured lights and posters during Eid, especially the Gulzar Cinema Hall. Sometimes, tickets even had to be bought in black," said Asad Haider of Bibirhat area.

A shopping mall replaced Gulzar Cinema Hall in 2005, said Abdul Aziz of Katalganj.

Most of the halls have been demolished to build multi-story buildings and malls. The city currently has just two operational movie theatres -- Cinema Palace and Sugandha (earlier known as Jhumur Cinema Hall), said Abul Hossain, president of Chattogram Cinema Hall Owners' Association and the owner of the halls.

"The demolition started in the late 1990s when vulgarity engulfed the film industry. With time, the audience turned away from the cinema halls, and our business started to collapse. The introduction of private television channels and internet facilities further added to their demise," he added.

A hall used to employ around 30 staff, all of whom received respect, enough salaries, and bonuses. However, with decreasing audience turn-outs, the owners are now struggling to even pay salaries regularly.

Following the first fall, other theatres -- Banani Complex, Jalsa, Nupur, Melody, Uzala, Lion, Khurshid Mahal, Rangam, Almas, Diner, Sanai, Upahar, Rhythm, Sagarika, Alankar, Akash, Chandni, Karnaphuli, Rupali, Purabi, and Garrison -- were demolished gradually to build shopping malls.

According to movie experts and hall owners, the audience now prefers multiplexes over single screens as they offer better sound and screen quality and more comfortable sitting arrangements.

Around 1,200 cinema halls have been shut down in the last 20 years in the country, while 200 are still struggling to cope with modern trends, mentioned Aolad Hossain Uzzwal, general secretary of Bangladesh Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association.