After remaining closed for several months due to persistent financial losses, Bogura’s modern cinema hall, Madhubon Cineplex, is set to reopen during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. The theatre will resume operations with the screening of Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka, starring popular Bangladeshi actor Shakib Khan. The reopening is being seen as a hopeful sign for cinema lovers in the northern district and for the struggling exhibition sector in Bangladesh.
The cineplex had shut its doors on 18 September last year after enduring months of declining audience turnout and mounting operational losses. During the closure period, the venue was temporarily used as a community centre for local events and gatherings. However, the owners maintained that they intended to reopen the hall if favourable conditions returned to the film market.
R M Yunus Rubel, owner of Madhubon Cineplex, said the decision to close the theatre had been difficult but unavoidable. According to him, continuous losses over several months left the management with little choice but to suspend operations.
“Running a cinema hall without a steady stream of quality films is extremely challenging,” Rubel explained. “This hall carries deep emotional value for our family, so we never wanted it to remain closed permanently. We were waiting for a more stable environment for the film industry.”
Rubel also expressed hope that the country’s newly elected government would take measures to support cinema hall owners by encouraging the production of quality domestic films and facilitating the import of internationally acclaimed foreign films. Such initiatives, he believes, could help revitalise the struggling cinema exhibition industry across the country.
Bogura, once known for its vibrant cinema culture, has experienced a dramatic decline in the number of operational theatres over the past few decades. At one time, the district had dozens of active cinema halls that regularly screened Bangladeshi and international films. However, the rise of digital entertainment platforms, declining film production, and financial challenges faced by theatre owners have led to the closure of many venues.
The current situation of cinema halls in Bogura is illustrated below:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total cinema halls in the past | 38 |
| Currently operational halls | 7 |
| Halls demolished or permanently closed | 31 |
Industry observers note that the revival of even a single cinema hall can have symbolic importance for regional film culture. The reopening of Madhubon Cineplex during Eid — traditionally one of the busiest periods for film releases in Bangladesh — may help attract audiences back to theatres.
For local film enthusiasts, the return of Madhubon Cineplex represents more than just the reopening of a building. It signals renewed optimism that cinema-going culture in Bogura may yet find a path to recovery. If successful, the move could inspire other dormant theatres across the region to reconsider reopening and investing once again in the big-screen experience.