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Published : 06 Apr 2026, 11:31 PM
Directors and producers have expressed their concern over the cancellation of evening and night shows in multiplexes following government directives.
The direction follows decisions to close stores and malls early to save energy amid the ongoing fuel crisis driven by the Iran war.
The filmmakers of five movies released for Eid screening issued a joint statement in this regard, while claiming to “support the government's decision to deal with the ordeals”.
The signatories are Tanim Noor, director of “Bonolota Express”, Raihan Rafi, director of “Pressure Cooker”, Shahreen Akter Sumi, producer of “Rakkhosh” and Shirin Sultana, producer of “Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka”.
Redoan Rony and Shahriar Shaki, director and producer of “Domm”, also supported the statement.
The government on Monday eased its energy-saving restrictions, allowing stores, markets and shopping malls across Bangladesh to remain open until 7pm -- an hour longer than previously mandated -- following pressure from business leaders.
The time limit will also apply to all fairs and cultural events.
On Thursday, all government and private offices were ordered to run from 9am to 4pm, with shops, markets and shopping malls asked to close after 6pm.
Kitchen markets, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, and emergency services, however, were exempted from the restriction.
The filmmakers fear that the early closure of cinemas could cause a “major damage” to the country's film industry.
Evening and night shows are the “prime time” for Eid movies as office-goers flock to the cinemas with their families after a busy day, they said.
“If the show closes by 7pm, a large number of viewers will be deprived of watching the movies,” the statement reads.
They said cinemas were exempted from such restrictions in the past despite malls being closed at a specific time.
The screenings would continue until 10pm or the end of the show at the time, ensuring security for the audience, according to the statement.
The filmmakers demanded the same arrangement to be restored.
Fearing losses, they said a producer invests millions in a movie, hoping to get a return during major festivals like Eid.
“If the cinemas stay shut at peak hours, it will be difficult to recover the investment and will pose a long-term negative impact on the country’s film industry,” they said.
