Hasina promises support for Bangladeshis to make world-class films

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has encouraged Bangladeshi dirctors, actors and technicians to focus on making world-class films and offered to provide them with whatever support they need.

She made the promise at the National Film Awards 2016 ceremony at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in Dhaka on Sunday.

“We need to always bear in mind that we want to march forward with our heads held high as a nation that emerged victorious from a liberation war – that we don't want to lag behind in any way,” said Hasina.

“We want especially our film industry to produce world-class films,” she said, “For that to happen, I will do whatever is needed from my end.”

Artistes and film professionals received awards for their outstanding contributions to the industry.

Actress Farida Akter Babita and actor Akbar Hossein Pathan (Faruk) were given Lifetime Achievement Award while the award for Best Film went to 'Oggatonama’ (The Unnamed) produced by Faridur Reza Sagor. The Best Film Director award was won by filmmaker Amitabh Reza for ‘Aynabaji’.

Chanchal Chowdhury was awarded as the Best Actor (for Aynabaji) while Nusrat Imrose Tisha (Ostitto film) and Kusum Sikder (Shongkhochil) were the joint winners in Best Actress category.

Best Short Film Producer award went to SM Kamrul Ahsan (Ghran) while the honour of Best Documentary Film Producer went to Ekattur Media Limited and Liberation War Museum (‘Janmasathi’ documentary).

Best supporting actors are Ali Raj (Pure Jay Mon) and Fazlur Rahman Babu (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe) while best Supporting Actress is Tania Ahmed (Krishno Pokkho), best villain Shahiduzzaman Selim (Oggatonama), best child actor Anum Rahman Khan (Shongkhochil), best music director Emon Saha (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe), best singer Wakil Ahmed (Darpan Bisorjon), best singer female Meher Afroz Shaon (Krishno Pokkho), best composer Gazi Mazharul Anwar (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe), best lyricist Emon Saha (Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe), best storywriter Tauquir Ahmed (Oggatonama), best cinematographers Rashed Zaman (Aynabaji), best scriptwriter Syeda Rubaiyat Hossain (Under Construction), best editor Iqbal Ahsanul Kabir (Aynabaji), best art director Uttam Guho (Shongkhochil), best photographer Rashed Zaman (Aynabaji), best sound director Ripon Nath (Aynabaji), best costume and decoration Md Abdus Sattar and Farzana San and best makeup man Manik (Under construction).