DHAKA, May 17, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Secretary M Humayun Kabir Khandaker today said film archive is playing vital role in preserving history, tradition and culture of a particular nation.

"Film is a powerful mass media where history is being preserved in its every frame ...and that's why film archieve is necessary for the country for understanding the history, tradition and culture of a particular nation", he said.
 
The Information and Broadcasting Secretary made this comment while attending as the chief guest at a function organised by BFA marking its 45th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Film Archive in city's Agargaon.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a dream to set up a film archive in the country and he had taken necessary steps in this regard in January, 1975, the secretary told the function.

But the initiative was halted after the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15 in 1975, he added.

Describing the incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a cinema loving personality, the information secretary said the present film archive has been set up due to the personal initiative of Sheikh Hasina. 

About the importance of the film archive, the information secretary said "Bangladesh Film Archive now has got a complete shape and there is more opportunity to make it better, adding "Since the Liberation War is our great achievement ..Bangladesh Film Archive will have to collect and preserve all the audio-visual documents of the Liberation War to enrich its importance."

Former Director General of Bangladesh Film Archive and former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Kamrun Nahar, Additional secretary (film) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Dr M Jahangir Alam and noted cultural personality Syed Salauddin Jaki also spoke on the occasion.

Project Director Dr M Mofakharrul Iqbal gave welcome address with Bangladesh Film Archive Director General M Jashim Uddin in the chair.

Director General of the Directorate of Mass Communication M Nizamul Huq, Bangladesh Film Censor Board Vice-Chairman Muhammad Saifullah, Director General of the Department of Films and Publications S M Golam Kibria, National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMCO) Director General Faizul Huq, Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) Director General Jafar Wazed and former Director General of Bangladesh Film Archive Nripendra Chandra also took part as discussants in the function.

The function also was attended by eminent film actors Ferdous Ahmed, Misha Sawdhagar, Dipjol, Zayed Khan, Ananta Jalil, Shipon Mitra, Samrat, Nirob, Saimon, Nader Chowdhury, Nader Khan ,Ali Raj, Afjal Sharif, Jhuna Chowdhury, film actresses Doly Johur, Dilara Zaman, Suchanda, Anjana, Rozina, Aruna Biswas, Nipun, Borsha, Shahnoor, Jhoyotika Joyoti, Shuchorita, Rokeya Prachi, Dilara and Nishat, film producers Habib Khan, Mirza Abdul Maleque, Alimullah Khokon, film directors Shahin Sumon, Montajur Rahman Akber, Morshedul Islam, Shah Alam Kiron, Mushfiqur Rahim Guljar and Sohanur Rahman Sohan.