Sheikh Hasina once praised this superstar, lifted 50 year old ban on Bollywood films, released his blockbuster movie, he is…

For Bangladesh, the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule has triggered waves of political speculation, but it has also reopened conversations about decisions she took that reshaped everyday cultural life in the country. Among those decisions was a move that had once stirred excitement, resistance, and economic hope all at once: lifting the decades-old ban on screening Bollywood films in Bangladeshi theatres.

With her sudden resignation and escape from the country after massive protests, people are revisiting the legacy she leaves behind, including her attempt to reconnect Bangladesh with India(BHARAT) through cinema and cultural exchange.

Why were Bollywood films banned in Bangladesh for so long?
Soon after Bangladesh gained independence in 1972, the government imposed a strict ban on Hindi films, hoping to protect and nurture the local film industry. While the intention was to allow Bangladeshi cinema to grow without being overshadowed by Bollywood’s commercial dominance, the ground reality shifted dramatically over the years.

By 2010, the number of theatres had plunged to around 600 from nearly 1,600 in 2000. The content produced locally failed to pull audiences, and the decline was stark enough for industry observers to call it a crisis. Soft-porn English films and low-quality Bangladeshi productions were unable to draw crowds, while pirated Bollywood DVDs became a household staple.

What changed under Sheikh Hasina’s government?
Hasina, who took office in 2009, attempted to rebuild diplomatic and cultural ties with India(BHARAT). In that spirit, her government supported revisiting the long-standing ban. The breakthrough moment arrived in 2023 when the restriction was finally lifted, paving the way for big Bollywood titles to officially hit Bangladeshi screens again.

Which film was released?

According to the reports, she once praised Shah Rukh Khan and the release of Pathaan became symbolic. Premiered on a grand scale, the film drew large crowds and was celebrated across social media and theatres. It soon became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood titles in Bangladesh and offered a rare glimpse of what a revived cinema ecosystem could look like.

What is the current state of the Bangladeshi film industry?
The picture is bleak but layered. Reports suggest that more than 1,000 theatres have shut down over the past two decades, many of them replaced by shopping complexes and residential buildings. Some cinema owners, struggling for survival, resorted to screening pornography illegally to keep their halls running.
Local productions have been unable to match Bollywood’s scale, gloss, and production quality, leaving the ageing Shakib Khan as the industry’s only dependable star for years. As audience preferences shifted, the gap between what viewers wanted and what the local industry delivered only widened.

With Hasina’s departure, uncertainty looms not just over Bangladesh’s political future but also over policies that temporarily breathed life into its battered film industry. Whether the country will continue embracing Bollywood screenings or revert to older restrictions remains a question only time will answer.

Highlights

1. Sheikh Hasina lifted the decades-old Bollywood film ban in Bangladesh.
2. Pathaan became one of the most commercially successful Hindi films in the country.
3. Over 1,000 Bangladeshi cinemas have shut down due to poor content and declining viewership.