Bangladesh Film Development Corporation's (BFDC) film equipment and installation rental prices have gone up, much to the dismay of film directors and producers who have been demanding a decrease in the prices for a while now.
However, the new list of prices, which was published last year on November 21, shows that the cost of film-making in Dhaka is, by no means, going down in the near future. On the contrary, it will now be more expensive than ever.
The new prices have come into effect since January 15, 2020.
Film-makers working outside of BFDC will now have to pay up to 1 lakh taka in order to acquire 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) from BFDC, while the previous price for each NOC was set at only Tk10,000.
The recent price hike has given rise to widespread resentment among film-makers, producers, and actors alike. Many are speculating that this is an attempt to hurt films made outside of BFDC. Others are warning that film-makers might be more eager to distance themselves from BFDC now.
Shamsul Alam, the general secretary of Film Producers Association, told the press that a written application was sent to the Ministry of Information, urging that actions should be taken to control the rising prices. The ministry responded by saying that the application has been sent to BFDC for further negotiations.
It is no secret that the heyday of Bangla cinema has passed. Theatres are empty and producers are not making any money. In the light of this recent price increase, the future surely looks bleak.