An old cinema hall. Photo: STAR

Chittagong city now falls short of cinema halls, once a main form of amusement for the city's people.
A significant number of cinema halls sprung up in the city from 1980 to 1995. But number of halls, once 35, buzzing with hundreds of enthusiastic movie-goers, is lessening day by day.
Multistoried apartments and markets are taking their place, with only six remaining -- Almas, Dinar, Jhumur, Cinema Palace, Sanai and Purabi cinema halls.
Sources said middle-income families lost the attraction of watching films at the halls since 1996 with the availability of cable television, which they could watch sitting in their living rooms.
The rich had abandoned cinema halls much earlier with the coming of videocassette recorder (VCR) and video compact disc (VCD) players, they added.
People from lower income groups found their destination in tea stalls where films are shown through VCD or cable television in exchange of Tk 5 to Tk 10. Some stall owners provide this opportunity if customers drink a cup of tea with some other food, some said.
Cinema hall owners found no profit in running business and influence from real estate companies caused them to opt for other establishments, said sources.
Some cinema halls like Sagarika in Double Mooring area turned into warehouses while others like Gulzar, Jalsa, Khurshid Mahal, Nupur, Melody, Ujala and Rangam turned to markets. Multistoried buildings are replacing Banani Complex, the most luxurious cinema hall in the port city, and Lion Cinema, they added.
“The existing cinema halls are now running amid losses,” said Alfaz Ahmed, an official of Sanai cinema hall. He added that the owner did not agree to dismantle this and another hall he possesses, Cinema Palace, as those carried memories of his departed father.
Ripa Chowdhury, a banker, said she recently went to cinema halls to watch two movies “Monpura” and “Third Person Singular Number” but expressed her dissatisfaction over their poor condition.
“Tickets are pricey but they do not provide facilities. There is no air-conditioning system, seats are worn out, toilets are dirty and there is lack of food in the refreshment stalls,” Ripa said.
She added that she had to stand and wait in the lobby at one of the halls for half an hour before she could enter to watch a movie.
Imtiaz Ahmed, a teacher at a private university, said he had enjoyed films like “Chandni” and “Keyamat Theke Keyamat” at cinema halls many times in the past. But the condition of existing halls is not suitable for middle class families to go and enjoy films there, he added.
Abul Kashem, manager of Almas Cinema Hall, yesterday said the remaining halls would also be shut down within a short time. “No new movie has been released since the beginning of Cricket World Cup 2011 till now. How will we pay the staff?”
He added that they have some audience on Friday but the halls remain almost vacant the remaining week.
Abul Hossain, chairman of Cinema Palace and Jhumur Cinema, said once middle class people had a custom to pay a visit to cinema halls with family at least once a week.
“But situation has quite changed in the last two decades. We are now incurring losses for lack of audience. Among the remaining six halls, as far as I know, two have already signed contracts with real estate companies,” he said.
Very soon no cinema hall will remain in Chittagong city, he added, urging the government to allow them to show Indian movies at least for a week every month and reduce taxes to save the industry.