Rajshahi, Nov 30 – The Rajshahi University authority has allowed a film producing company to hold a week-long show of its commercial production at the university Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium from December 1, drawing a huge criticism among the teachers and students of the university. The University Shaheed Shukharanjan Samaddar Teacher-Students Culture Center office rented the university Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium to Jaaz Multimedia to hold a six-day show of its commercial film Dohon from December 01. Raihan Rafi directed Dohon will hit cinemas across the country today.
The teachers and students of the university were saying that, by allowing Jaaz Multimedia to hold its commercial film Dohon, the university authorities were trying to break down its long-standing tradition.
They said that none was allowed to hold any show of commercial movie in the history of the university.
Sazzad Bakul, president of RU film society and also associate Professor of RU mass communication and journalism department, told that allowing these kinds of commercial films at the university is contrary to what they practice at the university.
‘This can hinder our practice of independent film making. We as well as the students try to produce films those are instructive and can change the attitude and thinking of the students. We show those films at a film festival. But, holding a show of commercial film may destroy the independent culture practice of the students,’ he added.
RU folklore department assistant Professor Amirul Islam Kanak said that the university authority can allow films those are not built commercially but independent film. ‘The university has its own cultural tradition. If the university authority, knowing that it is a commercial film, gave their consent to the Jaaz Multimedia, it is extremely wrong,’ he added.
‘It was nothing but a process of commercializing the university culture practice, he also added.
Sohel Rana Hero, president of RU cultural alliance, a platform of ten cultural organisations of the university, told that they strongly protested and condemned against the university authorities decision. ‘We would discuss about the matter at our today’s executive body’s meeting’, he added.
However, the university Shaheed Shukharanjan Samaddar Teacher-Students Culture Center director Professor Hasibul Alam Prodhan told that they have allowed Jaaz Multimedia to hold the shows of the film abiding the cultural center policy.
He also said that the university higher authority was concerned about the screening of the movie.
However, vice chancellor M Abdus Sobhan was not available for his comment despite repeated trying.
Meanwhile, a group of teachers claimed that the university authority allowed Jaaz Multimedia to hold the show of the movie with the direction of higher government officials. – RU Correspondent
