'Bonolota Express' film screening suspended in Brahmanbaria amid standoff over Islamic groups' objections

A controversy has erupted in Brahmanbaria over the scheduled screening of the acclaimed film "Bonolota Express" after organisers accused local Qawmi madrassah students of launching an aggressive social media campaign to block the event.

The Brahmanbaria Film Society, a platform formed by undergraduate students from various tertiary institutions, had scheduled the screening for Saturday afternoon (30 May) on the Annada Government High School premises to mark the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations.

However, the initiative hit a major roadblock as student wings of Islamic groups began campaigning against the screening online, prompting conflicting claims between the student organisers and the school administration regarding official venue approval.

Conflicting stances on venue permission

According to Taoja Khandaker, an economics student at Brahmanbaria Government College and an event organiser, the society formally secured the screening rights from the film's director, Tanim Noor, on 25 May before approaching the high school administration.

Khandaker alleged that members met the headteacher and initially received verbal clearance to host the event on the campus grounds. He claimed that the school administration abruptly revoked this permission only after members of the Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad began publishing defamatory posts on Facebook demanding a ban on the screening.

Conversely, the school administration strongly rejected the narrative of a forced cancellation. Mosammat Sabina Yasmin, the acting headteacher of Annada Government High School, told TBS that while a delegation of alumni had approached her seeking permission to screen the movie, she had explicitly turned down their request from the outset.

She clarified that the campus was being prepared for traditional post-Eid alumni reunions and added that granting permission for commercial or public film screenings inside an educational institution was entirely out of the question.

Ideological opposition and administrative appeals

The public opposition was spearheaded by religious student leaders who framed the cultural event as a threat to local values. Hafez Nasrullah Moaz, a leader of the Brahmanbaria District Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad, shared a promotional photo card of the film screening on his Facebook profile, defaced with a prominent red cross.

In his post, Moaz asserted that Brahmanbaria is a city of Islamic scholars where historical figures had successfully shut down cinemas in the past, accusing the organisers of attempting to reintroduce movie culture to the area.

He urged the local administration to intervene immediately to preserve the religious and social environment of the district.

The broader religious leadership in the district has taken a cautious approach while monitoring the situation. Maulana Ali Azam, general secretary of Brahmanbaria Hefazat-e-Islam, acknowledged that reports of the dispute had reached him and noted that he had summoned the student leaders to hear their grievances before formulating an official organisational stance.

Meanwhile, Mohaiminul Azbeen, an adviser to the Brahmanbaria Film Society and a student at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, maintained that the organisers remain committed to holding the screening and are currently seeking a negotiated settlement to resolve the impasse.

The General Secretary of the Brahmanbaria Film Society, Bakhtiar Shahriar said, "Despite facing opposition on Facebook and elsewhere, we tried to proceed with the screening. However, the school authorities cancelled permission citing concerns over possible attacks. As a result, we could not find a venue and had to suspend the screening.

He added that no cooperation was received from the administration, and they were asked to keep the matter on hold for now.

Shahriar further said that the situation is unacceptable.

"If Qawmi students do not wish to attend, they should simply opt out. But those who want to organise such events must be allowed to do so", he added.

The Convener of the Brahmanbaria Combined Cultural Alliance, Abdun Noor, said the suspension of the screening of "Bonolota Express" is sending a negative message about Brahmanbaria nationally and even internationally.

He added, "Film screenings are not prohibited under law, and the move therefore violates legal provisions and goes against democratic principles."

When contacted, Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md Abu Sayeed said no permission had been sought from his office for the screening and the administration was not formally aware of the matter.

He said, "We learned about it informally through Facebook discussions. Given the sensitivity of the issue, the screening of 'Bonolota Express' will remain suspended for now."