Speakers at the seminar. -- New Age photo

A seminar on ‘Political movements and its impact on film: Bangladesh context’ was held on Tuesday at the seminar room of Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of the Dhaka University.
Dhaka University Film Society organised the seminar in which the keynote paper was presented by Mir Mokarram Hossain while professor Janet Wasko from University of Oregon, Canada, eminent filmmaker Morshedul Islam, Federation of Film Societies Bangladesh president Manzare Hassin Murad, DU television and film department chairman Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan and DUFS president Ariful Islam also discussed on the topic.  
In the keynote paper, Mir Mokarram Hossain tried to establish the fact that many popular movies have been made depicting political movements across the globe.
According to his paper, political issues have also played a significant role in local movies. And many quality movies have been made in the light of the spirit of the war of independence including Jibon Theke Neya, Ora Egaro Jan, Arunodoyer Agnisakkhi, Dhire Bohe Meghna, Alor Michhil, Guerrilla and others. 
Giving box-office references he tried to prove that only a few of such movies could make profit.
According to Mir Mokarram Hossain, the current censorship policy is also creating an embargo at the development of the industry.  Criticising the strictness of censorship, he observed that such approach is not only depriving the industry of making profit by releasing hardcore pornography and it’s against the spirit of ‘freedom of choice’
Mir Mokarram Hossain’s such observation was highly criticised by the Canadian professor Janet Wasko. Professor Wasko showed concern at the controversial representation of women in such pornographic movies.
The other discussants delivered some fruitful comments on the paper and also appreciated Hossain.
Morshedul Islam, in his speech, said, ‘It is a matter of regret that no feature film on the language movement has been made yet.’
Manzare Hassin Murad’s speech focused on the politics of censorship in the political films in Bangladesh.