Actor Azmeri Haque Badhan, who was active in the Anti-Discrimination Movement and supported student protests, has now raised concerns about corruption and the budget in the production of the film “Mujib: The Making of a Nation.”
In a recent interview with Tanveer Tarek, Badhan demanded transparency about the film’s expenses.
She said: “I want to see the accounts of the film named ‘Mujib.’ I want to understand how such a high-budget film could be made so poorly!”
Expressing her dissatisfaction with the film’s production, Badhan said: “With a budget of crores of taka, what kind of film was made? I want to know where the money went. It is very distressing that taxpayer money was used to make a film that turned out like this!”
The film “Mujib: The Making of a Nation,” which depicts the life of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was released in theatres in October 2024. It was a joint production between Bangladesh and India.
It is considered one of the highest-budget films in the history of the country, with an estimated cost of approximately Tk83 crore.
Since its release, the film has sparked various discussions and criticisms. During the tenure of the Awami League government, many film critics refrained from commenting on it.
The agreement for the film was signed on January 14, 2020, in New Delhi by then-Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud and Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.
According to the agreement, Bangladesh contributed 60% of the total budget, amounting to about Tk50 crore, while India was to contribute the remaining 40%, which is over Tk33 crore.
In the film, Arifin Shuvoo portrays Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as having taken a symbolic fee of just Tk1. Nusrat Imroz Tisha, who plays the role of Fazilatunnesa Mujib, also accepted a fee of Tk1.
The film features performances by numerous actors including Nusrat Faria, Riaz Ahmed, Dilara Zaman, Chanchal Chowdhury, Siam Ahmed, Zayed Khan, Khairul Alam Sabuj, Raisul Islam Asad, Gazi Rakayet, Taufiq Ahmed, Misha Sawdagar, and many others.
