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The activities of most of the cultural institutions, cinemas and art galleries in Dhaka were interrupted for political unrest and economic instability in 2024. 

The Star Cineplex manager, film activist, theatre venue manager and theatre activists, and art gallery director said on Monday that the outgoing year was not good for the entertainment sector because cultural activities were interrupted for political unrest and lack of audience for economic instability in the country.

Media and marketing manager of Star Cineplex Mesbah Uddin Ahmed said that the year was not good for cinema hall owners because of the political unrest and not many local movies hit at the box office except Shakib Khan-starred Toofan.

‘After the student-led mass uprising a lot of international movies were released in Cineplex but the audience was not interested due to the political and economic instability. I hope the next year, particularly during the Eid festival, the situation will improve because there is a Shakib Khan-starred film scheduled to be released,’ said Mesbah Uddin Ahmed. 

Bangladesh Short Film Forum president Zahirul Islam said that the year 2024 was a transitional period for the Bangladesh film industry although fifty films were released in cinema halls and OTT platforms in 2024.

‘A lot of promising youths entered the film industry as director, actors and producers in 2024 while different film committees were reformed after the student-led mass uprising that were positive signs for the arena. The commercial movies declined because of one-man based industry and lack of cinema halls for ordinary people,’ said Zahirul Islam.   

Government grants patronised literature-based films but a lot of money was wasted to produce films in Mujib Year celebration, said Zahirul Islam, adding, ‘Our filmmakers and hall owners need incentives for independent films’ screening. Besides, we need many single screen cinema halls for low-income people.’

In Dhaka, only four theatre halls commonly used by theatre troupes but three venues at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy which are being used as temporary camps for army personnel since mid-July. 

Gazi Ibrahim Feroz, management officer of Bangladesh Mahila Samity said that after the activities of the BSA were closed in July the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium became busier than usual although the BSA reopened its National Theatre Hall in October and the remaining two auditoriums opened in December.

‘Usually we are holding theatre shows in 15 to 20 days in a month, but from September to December our auditorium received a huge number of applications for theatre shows,’ said Gazi Ibrahim Feroz.

From the perspective of theatre practice, the year 2024 was not good, said Saif Suman, executive member of the theatre troupe Anuswar. 

‘After the student-led mass uprising maximum theatre troupes stopped their activities but some theatre troupes performed on the streets and at different venues and they received good response from the audiences,’ Saif Suman said, adding that Anuswar staged 54 shows of their seven theatre productions in 2024.

Private art galleries suffered a lot during the uprising but since September they  run in full swing but fail to reach financial outputs.

‘Artists organise many exhibitions but the buyer of art works are not interested in collecting artworks as the country was still grappling with political and economic instability,’ said executive director of Gallery Chitrak, Md Moniruzzaman.

Many galleries and organisations are hosting exhibitions and art camps which are good but without political stability the country art market will not be resilient, said Moniruzzaman.