Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need for proper use of talents, particularly in youths, to produce quality films aimed at taking Bangladesh to a dignified position in the international arena.

“We have a plenty of talented people and are ahead of many other countries in comparison to having talents. We would have to secure a dignified position on the world stage by making quality films by proper utilization of the talents,” she said.

The premier asked all concerned to give a special focus on the particular issue while handing over the National Film Award-2017 and 2018 at a ceremony arranged by the Information Ministry at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here.

In this context, she said the artistes of Bangladesh are doing good jobs after going to the neighbouring country adding, “We would have to do the same or even better to attract other countries towards our films.”

She greeted the award recipients and said the awards were to recognize their good work and inspire them to move ahead.

The prime minister also advocated using the talents, creativity and thoughts inside the youths in making more quality films capitalizing on the modern technology as she described the current time a digital one.

To this end, she said that Bangladesh is now a digital country as it has already launched Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and is taking preparation to launch the second one.

Appreciating the youth for coming to the film arena, she called upon them to take proper training on making quality films from the Bangladesh Television and Film Institute which was set up by her government aimed at flourishing the intellects.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud presided over the function while State Minister for Information Dr Md Murad Hassan and Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Ministry Hasanul Haq Inu attended it as the special guests.

Information Secretary Abdul Malek delivered the welcome address at the function attended by ministers, advisers, parliament members, high civil and military officials, media personalities and dignitaries.

Sheikh Hasina asked the film related people to remain cautious in making films that have the potential of reforming or ruining a society.

“One can get an overview of a society through films, whereas films can reach information easily to the society. It can reform a society while the bad culture (created by the films) even destroys a society also,” she said referring to the ill attempts to destroy the society after assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15 in 1975.

She said after the assassination of Bangabandhu the society was taken to such a situation that the people could not go to cinemas with all their family members.

“—but we have come out of the situation. The interests of the people are increasing as movies are now being made considering the social reformation as well as the wellbeing of the society,” she said after giving thanks to the film related people.

The premier said her government will provide all necessary supports to make the movie houses digitised with all modern facilities at the districts and upazila levels to cope with the changing trends of the world.

“We have to give a special eye on arrangement of better scopes including making cinemas digitalized for amusement as economic solvency and purchasing capacity have been increased of the people up to upazila level,” she said.

Describing the language, literature and culture as priceless assets, she urged all to make movies containing the country’s history, culture and heritage and unique characteristics of Bangladesh which can earn global appreciation.

The premier recalled the contribution of Bangabandhu to film development and said Bangabandhu had first created the scope of making films by a Bangalee in Bangladesh as he placed the bill titled “East Pakistan Film Development Corporation” in the parliament and it was passed.

Sheikh Hasina said that Bangabandhu had created the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) and took other necessary measures for the overall development of film.

But after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, she said, the voice of art and culture of Bangalees was gagged and propaganda was carried out by distorting the history of independence.

The prime minister said the post-75 illegitimate governments made ill efforts to ruin the film industry and as a result the industry was on the verge of destruction.