Prof. Dr. Zakir Hossain Raju, Head of the Department of Media and Communication at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has been appointed as a member of the Expert Committee of the Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA). His appointment for a two-year term was announced in a circular of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on November 5, 2024.

The expert committee will function under the Bangladesh Film Archive Governance and Management Policy 2010 and is tasked with providing support, suggestions and recommendations to BFA.

Alongside Prof. Raju, the two other expert members of the seven-member committee are Dr. Gitiara Nasreen, Professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Dhaka University; and Labib Nazmus Shakib, filmmaker and researcher. The remaining four members are all government officials serving in ex-officio capacities: they are the Director General of BFA (head of the committee); Vice Chairman of the Film Certification Board; a Deputy Secretary of the ministry; and Director of BFA (member secretary).

Dr. Raju, who was appointed a member of the Bangladesh Film Certification Board in September this year, is also the Director of the King Sejong Institute at IUB. He is the author of Bangladesh Cinema and National Identity, a widely acclaimed book published by Routledge, UK which is also the first ever research-based monograph on the Bangladeshi film industry. In 2004, he became the first Bangladeshi to earn a PhD in film studies.

He previously chaired the Netpac jury for the Asian Film Competition at the 80th Venice International Film Festival in 2023, and the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2015 and 2020. He is the current Vice President of International Film Initiative of Bangladesh and a former president of the Bangladesh Short Film Forum.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Dr. Raju said, “It is an honor to be part of the expert committee, a platform dedicated to preserving the rich legacy of our national cinema. I am excited to contribute to initiatives that will not only safeguard our cinematic heritage but also promote research and education in this field. My involvement in both the Archive and the Certification Board allows me to work towards a holistic approach in nurturing and preserving the diverse trends of Bangladeshi films.”

Established in 1978, the Bangladesh Film Archive (BFA) works to preserve Bangladesh’s cinematic heritage by safeguarding films, documents, and related materials while offering resources like a film library and museum. It supports filmmakers, researchers, and students through screenings, seminars, and research, ensuring the nation’s rich film history remains accessible for future generations. BFA is also a member of the International Federation of Film Archives.

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