Film censor board will be reconstituted, say Advisor Nahid

A certification board will be formed per the Bangladesh Film Certification Bill, he says

The censor board will be reconstituted and a certification board will be formed per the Bangladesh Film Certification Bill, ICT Advisor Md Nahid Islam says.

"The censor and jury boards were formed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. There was a meeting with their committees today [Wednesday]. We have discussed the censor board,” he said at a media briefing after meeting newly elected committees of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board and jury board at the Secretariat.

The Bangladesh Film Certification Bill was gazetted in 2023, but the rules of that gazette have not been made yet.

“The censor board was also formed previously under the Censorship of Films Act, 1963 as there were no rules there. Following this, we formed an emergency censor board so that the film industry does not suffer a loss during the emergency," the advisor said.

"Since a law has been gazetted in 2023, we are removing the word ‘censor’ based on everyone's opinion. We will reconstitute the certification board in accordance with the Bangladesh Film Certification Bill."

Expressing concern over the flaws in the bill passed in 2023, Nahid said they had a discussion over the issues, promising reforms to the draft law through consultation with various stakeholders.

“A proposal will be made. Since there are a lot of films pending, the certification board will be reconstituted to make arrangements for their early release,” he said.