Constant incurrence of losses are pushing the cinema theatre business in Narshingdi towards extinction, with two-thirds of the cinemas in the district already out of business.
The business used to be thriving in Narsingdi – there were 18 cinema theatres running successfully in the district’s six upazilas, said sources at the district information office. But a fall in the quality of films beginning in the 90s started repelling cinema-goers from visiting the theatres. Piracy made it worse.
The increasing absence of audience eventually caused a blow to the business which the cinemas are now finding impossible to survive, staff and owners of the existing cinemas told the Dhaka Tribune.
Twelve cinemas have already gone out of business, the establishments now being used for commercial and other purposes.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Nazmul Alam Bhuiyan Mitul, owner of Pipasha Cinema in Monohardi upazila, one of the cinemas that were closed, said: “My back was on the wall. It was incurring loss for a long time, because no one comes to watch films at cinemas any more. People get their hands on the films before their release, thanks to piracy.”
Sanaul Haque Bindu, owner of Surobhi Cinema in Narshingdi town – one of the six cinemas still in existence – said: “I have incurred a huge debt because of my struggling business. I am thinking about finding an alternative venture; the cinema has to be shut down.”
Faruq Hossain Manik, owner of Runa Cinema in Narshingdi’s Chalakchar area, shared Sanaul’s sentiment.
“I had to suffer a loss of Tk200,000 last month. The business is doomed. I am thinking about renting the building out as a garage,” he said.
The Dhaka Tribune contacted Sanjida Amin, district information officer in Narshingdi, who confirmed the dire condition of the district’s cinema theatre business.
“I went to the existing cinemas for inspection. Talking to the audience there, I learnt that scarcity of good-quality films and vulgar contents in most of them is the main reasons why film lovers are turning away from the cinemas. Screening of better-quality films and ensuring good environment is essential to draw people towards this business,” she said.
The cinema owners said: “The government has to step in to help us. If they do not take the necessary initiatives soon, it won’t be long until the cinema theatre business in Narshingdi dies out.”