The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The attention of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board has been to the confusing statements in a section of print and electronic media on organising the international film festival in Bangladesh.

The board in a clarification issued here yesterday said, the position of the board is that in accordance with section 14 of " the Bangladesh Censorship of Films Rules 1977", censor certificate is mandatory for "public exhibition," of any film.

It is also mandatory to pay fees at a fixed rate for obtaining the censor certificate under the same rule and which had also been followed in the past for organising film festivals, the clarification said.

"Section 8 of The Censorship of Film Act, 1963, stipulates that if any film shows arranged in the country without obtaining censor certificate will be regarded as punishable offence.

Under section 45 of the general financial rules there is no room for waving government revenue or fees without the assent of Finance Division," the clarification pointed out.

" On special consideration in one or two cases, proposal for waving the censor fee is sent to the Finance Division for its assent," the clarification added.

The film clubs are controlled by "The Film Clubs (Registration and Control) Act, 1980." The section 7 of this act has kept the provision for showing films on completely non commercial basis, the board clarification said .

Till now, no application, declaration, fixed fee or films has been submitted to the Film Censor Board for showing in the 10th international film festival, the release said adding, "Besides, the board did not get any response from the organisers though they were being contacted in writing ".

The Film Censor Board hopes that instead of creating any confusion in the people's mind about film festival, the international film festival organising agencies should adhere the prevailing law and rule to maintain the healthy film showing environment for the sake of exhibiting standard films.