Feature



By Khaled Nasir; Dept. of Media and Communication, IUB

Films record the contemporary culture of a nation. It throws insights into the socio- economic and political realities which any other media can candidly capture and depict to leave a lasting impression in the minds of its viewers of the present time and for the future. Keeping this in mind, the IUB Film and Photography Club organized a one day program in its campus 8 on the 30th October 2007. The Department of Media and Communication of the university organized the event, which was first of its kind.

Prof. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury, the Vice Chancellor of the Independent University, Bangladesh, along with Prof. Nazrul Islam, Director, SLASS, and Prof. G.M. Shaihidul Alam, Head of the department of Media and Communication and Chief Patron of the Club were present on the occasion. Ms. Farhana Afroz and Ms. Nazia Hussein our two teachers acted as co-coordinators of the event. Among the distinguished guests, internationally acclaimed film maker, Tareque Masud was the Chief Guest, while another eminent Bangladeshi film maker Badal Rahman and Manzar-e Shamim Mured were also among the distinguished guests. Mr. Rahman spoke on the occasion.

The teachers and students are attaching higher importance on professionalism in film making and photography, and exploring its role in our social life to bring positive changes in our value system in the society. The department and the university attach high priority to set higher standard to this part of creative art. The event was a collective initiative that came from both the student and the teachers of the department.

The inaugural ceremony started with an address of welcome by Ms. Farhana Afroz, followed by a brief but succinct speech by Prof. Shahidul Alam, the Head of the Department, giving the background of the club. The idea of the club came from the Vice Chancellor himself, a film buff. Prof. Alam emphasized on the need for expansion of department and new streams like, art of advertising, and TV and Film production, is going to be introduced in next semesters.

Acclaimed film maker Tareque Masud focused on the poor quality of the film that harms the way of the development of films in general. He also appreciated the initiatives taken. Badal Rahman, on the other hand, discussed the similarity and the contrasts of film making of the past and the present.

The most fascinating part was the slide show of the photographs taken by the club members. The photographs were organized in different categories. It included the most mundane daily chores of life to the exploration of the wild which amazed the students and the teachers alike. The session was concluded by screening of the film Matir Moyna, directed by Tareque Masud which won international awards from home and abroad.