Hijir Hayat Rejoins New Film Certification Board, Naushaba Also Included

Director Khijir Hayat Khan has rejoined the newly formed Film Certification Board, established after the dissolution of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board. Actress Kazi Naushaba Ahmed is also included as a member of the board.

Following political changes, the operations of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board were suspended about a year and a half ago. Subsequently, on September 22, 2024, the government formed the Bangladesh Film Certification Board for the first time.

At that time, the board included Kazi Naushaba, Iqbal Ehsanul Kabir, Khijir Hayat Khan, and Tasmiya Afrin. Khijir Hayat resigned two months later due to personal reasons.

The government has now reconstituted the Certification Board. The new 15-member board includes actress Kazi Naushaba Ahmed, film editor Iqbal Ehsanul Kabir, director Khijir Hayat Khan, director Tasmiya Afrin, among others.

On January 14, a notification signed by Taslima Noor Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, announced the formation of the board under Section 3(1) of the Bangladesh Film Certification Act, 2023.

The chairman of the newly formed board will be the Senior Secretary or Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, while the Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Film Censor Board will serve as member secretary.

Other members include the Additional Secretary (Films) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, a representative from the Ministry of Law and Justice, a Press Wing officer from the Chief Adviser’s office, a representative from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Managing Director of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation, and representatives from various film-related organizations.