The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced plans to replace the existing Censor Board with a new Film Certification Board. This move comes in response to ongoing debates and criticisms about film censorship in Bangladesh.
Nahid Islam, Adviser to the Ministry, made the announcement during a briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday. He explained that the change is being made in accordance with the Bangladesh Film Certification Act of 2023. Although this act had been officially gazetted, it lacked the necessary accompanying rules until now.
The Censor Board, established under the 1963 law, was initially intended as a temporary measure to prevent financial losses in the film industry while waiting for a new certification framework. “With the 2023 law now in effect, we are moving away from the term ‘censor’ and will establish the Certification Board in accordance with this new legislation,” Nahid said.
The briefing on Wednesday focused on addressing the outdated aspects of the 1963 law and the need for new regulations. The reconstituted board aims to expedite the certification process for films that are pending release. This is expected to help keep the film industry active and responsive to contemporary standards.
Adviser Nahid also addressed the shift from censorship to certification. He highlighted that this change is driven by long-standing demands from film industry professionals who have opposed censorship. The new certification framework is designed to support ongoing film production while addressing industry concerns and ensuring that regulatory requirements are met. Overall, the transition to a Film Certification Board is seen as a positive step towards modernizing the film certification process and aligning it with current industry needs and standards.
