Director recounts harassment by Censor Board

Director Reza Ghatak completed filming his new feature “Horibol,” based on the experience of a disenfranchised Matua family living in one of the villages of Baleshwar, by the end of 2019. He submitted his film to the Censor Board on 10 December, confident that his film would be cleared in a short period of time. 

One and a half year have passed, and “Horibol” is unfortunately nowhere near to see the light of the day. 

Penned and directed by Ghatak, “Horibol” took three years to make. The film’s premise simultaneously follows a Birangana of the 1971 Liberation War and the struggles of a minority family living in a post-independence Bangladesh. 

After submitting the film to the Censor Board, the director received a letter which instructed him to get his film certified by Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC). Ghatok later revealed the letter to Channel 24.

Haribol| Collected

“I am an independent filmmaker. I had no dealings with the BFDC; nor did I use any of its equipments while making “Horibol.” Why would I have to obtain an additional certificate from the BFDC?” Ghatak expressed his frustration to the media. 

After repeated requests from the Censor Board, the director said that he had reluctantly contacted the BFDC who in turn asked him to obtain the membership of Bangladesh Film Producers' Association and donate one lakh taka to the BFDC fund.

Reza Ghatak refused to pay the money and allegedly had several more confrontations with the BFDC authority, to no avail. His film "Horibol" remains unreleased.