Filmmakers and producers in Bangladesh have been urged to take a more active role in promoting anti-smoking messages in films and ensuring strict compliance with the Tobacco Control Law and related regulations. The call came during a discussion titled “Roles of Directors and Producers in executing the Tobacco Control Law in Films”, held at the BFDC Seminar Hall on Saturday.
The event was jointly organized by Madok Drabya O Nesha Nirodh Sangstha (MANAS) and the Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association. It was presided over by Prof. Dr. Arup Ratan Choudhury, Founder President of MANAS, with S. M. Abdur Rahman, Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Film Certification Board, attending as Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Shahin Sumon, President of the Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association and filmmakers Chhatku Ahmed and Delwar Jahan Jhontu.
In her keynote presentation, Umme Jannat, Project Coordinator of MANAS, highlighted how filmmakers may reduce tobacco-use scenes, current violations of the Tobacco Control Law in cinemas and OTT platforms, and international examples of effective anti-tobacco messaging in films. Other speakers included Helal Ahmed, General Secretary of Protyasha; Md. Bazlur Rahman, Associate Professor at Dhaka International University; Hamidul Islam Hillol, Project Director at BER–Dhaka University; and Syeda Ananya Rahman, Head of Programs at WBB Trust. The session was moderated by Md. Abu Rayhan, Senior Project & Communication Officer of MANAS.
Prof. Dr. Arup Ratan Choudhury emphasized that cinema influences millions of young minds and urged directors and producers to ensure films do not encourage addiction. Speakers said that depicting smoking and drug use in films harms societal and cultural values, especially among youth, and cannot be justified as a “story requirement.”
They warned that tobacco companies exploit entertainment media to normalize addiction and stressed the need for effective on-screen warnings. Authorities were called upon to finalise OTT platform policies along with separate guidelines to prevent smoking, drug use, and abusive language in films.
The discussion was attended by 40 film directors and producers, officials from BFDC, and representatives from Protyasha, TCRC-DIU, WBB Trust, DORP, and the Grambangla Unnayan Committee.
