There is good news for cinephiles in Chattogram as a new branch of the country's popular multiplex cinema hall, Star Cineplex, was launched in the port city today.

This branch was inaugurated at Bali Arcade Shopping Complex at Chawkbazar in the city. Moviegoers can start watching films here from December 3, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent quoting Star Cineplex authorities.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud was present as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony.

He said if the Bangladesh Film Directors Association, Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association, and Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association do not have any problems with screening Hindi movies in cinema halls, the government has no problem allowing it.

Earlier, Solaiman Alam Seith, managing director of Bali Arcade Shopping Complex, requested the government to allow the screening of at least one Hindi movie in a month at cineplexes.

The minister thanked Star Cineplex for opening a branch in his home town.

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He said government has been patronising the film industry and formed a fund of Tk 1,000 crore to revive closed cinema halls.

"Already 200 cinema halls have been revived in the past one year," he said.

Razz and Pori at the inauguration.

AL presidium member and lawmaker Mosharraf Hossain said he was happy that Star Cineplex opened in Chattogram.

Chairman of Star Cineplex Mahbub Rahman Ruhel said the halls have been built with all the facilities of world-class cinema halls, including aesthetic environment, sound system with the latest technology, and giant screen.

He said, "We have planned to build 100 cinema halls across the country," adding, "The implementation of the plan is progressing continuously."

Chattogram has a large number of movie buffs who expect a multiplex like Star Cineplex, he said, adding, "I myself am from Chattogram. It can be said that this was a long-standing demand of the people of Chattogram. I wanted to fulfil this demand earlier but, it did not happen due to various reasons. I am glad to be able to do the job now."

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"When the news of the closure of one cinema hall after another is creating disappointment in the country, the news of the construction of new multiplexes by Star Cineplex is spreading hope among the movie buffs" he said.

Ruhel said, "Our initiative will continue to expand the country's cinema industry. We believe that the heyday of Bengali cinema will return again. The culture of going to the cinema with the family will resume. We are trying to create the necessary environment for this."

On October 8, 2004, the country's first multiplex cinema Star Cineplex started its journey at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in the capital. Currently, there are five branches in Dhaka. Apart from this, the construction of new branches in Bogura and Rajshahi is ongoing.

Mejbah Uddin Ahmed, senior manager (Media and Marketing Department) of Star Cineplex, said that the multiplex consists of three halls in the vicinity. The first hall seats 86 people, the second hall seats 196, and the third one seats 125.

Movie stars including Sariful Razz and Pori Moni were present at the programme.