Ulka, a long-running single-screen cinema hall at Gazipur Chowrasta, is set to close permanently in November as falling attendance, mounting losses and rising operating costs make it increasingly difficult to keep the business afloat.
Mohammad Rafiq Uddin, managing director of the cinema hall, confirmed the decision, saying ticket sales from current releases are no longer sufficient to cover even electricity bills.
“The hall is struggling to survive. We are incurring losses continuously. The films currently screening cannot even cover the electricity bill,” he said.
Rafiq Uddin said films with compelling stories and established stars continue to attract audiences. However, relying on releases concentrated around the two Eid festivals is not enough to sustain a cinema hall throughout the year.
He pointed to the audience response to films starring Shakib Khan, suggesting that more releases featuring the actor outside the Eid seasons could help single-screen cinemas remain viable.
Unusually high electricity bills have added to the financial strain, according to Rafiq Uddin. With operating expenses becoming increasingly difficult to manage, the owners have decided to shut down rather than continue accumulating losses.
Audience numbers have also declined sharply, hall authorities said. Some screenings attract only a handful of moviegoers, leaving ticket revenue insufficient to cover staff salaries and routine operating expenses.
The planned closure comes as Kamruzzaman’s Sneher Bondhon is screening at the venue. Starring Joy Chowdhury and Mou Khan, the film was released in 14 cinemas on October 16.
Its promotional campaign included appearances on an open-roof bus in Dhaka. However, reports from the exhibition circuit indicate that the film has struggled to attract audiences.
The closure will further narrow cinema-going options in Gazipur, an industrial district with a large working population. Local industry sources said four cinemas were operating in the district around a year to 18 months ago.
Once Ulka closes, only Barsha and Jhumur cinemas are expected to remain open in the district. Both venues are reportedly facing financial difficulties, raising further concerns about the future of single-screen cinema in the area.
Ulka’s shutdown highlights the challenges facing traditional cinema halls in Bangladesh, where declining attendance and rising operating costs continue to put pressure on venues that have long provided relatively affordable big-screen entertainment.