Inaugurating the Second International Film Festival at the Osmani Memorial auditorium in the city, Khaleda Zia also called on them not to make films presenting those merely as a medium of entertainment. She said that victory song of humanity should be sung sonorously in the large canvass of film.

Khaleda called upon the film makers to portray genuine picture of the country in their films.

She expressed the hope that the filmmakers would produce films in an artistic way that would portray life struggle of the people, their happiness, sorrows, laughter and convey the message of overcoming poverty and disaster.

Calling for united stand against vulgarism in films for the sake of healthy social uplift, she said her government is going to take stern measures to stop vulgar and indecent films side by side with patronising creative film making.

Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Chairman of the festival committee MM Rezaul Karim, Advisor of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) Shafiq Rahman and Festival Director Golam Rabbani Biplob also addressed the function.

Organised by the BFFS, more than 100 films from 42 countries will be screened during the two-week festival.

The prime minister reiterated her government's determination to patronise the film industry to help direct this art medium towards a healthy and correct path. Otherwise, she said, the harmful impact of this powerful medium would affect society.

Khaleda expressed her optimism that this year's film festival would contribute to creating good taste among the movie goers and benefit the filmmakers and artistes through establishment of mutual links. It would enrich their knowledge, skill and creativity.

She thanked the organisers of the festival for selecting "film for the people" as its main theme.

She said whichever hurts good taste, values and morality is bad and added that is called vulgar which incites bad instinct, lust, terrorism and criminality.

She underlined the need for forging closer links among the mainstream filmmakers, film experts and the common viewers to help produce good films and encourage movie goers to enjoy films in the cinema halls.

Recalling the contribution of late President Ziaur Rahman for the development of film industry, she said that he (Zia) had first organised the international film festival in Bangladesh and introduced the national film awards.

Khaleda paid tributes to noted filmmakers, including Zahir Raihan, for their valuable contribution to the film industry.

In his speech, Shamsul Islam underscored the need for producing healthy films to encourage people in improving their standard of life and contributing to socio-economic development.

Welcoming the participants, especially from abroad, he said this festival would open horizons of learning, sharing of experience, productive and meaningful interaction and fulfilment of obligation to society.

Organisers said, during the festival, films would be screened at the National Museum auditorium, the Central Public Library auditorium, the Russian Cultural Centre, Star Cineplex and major cinema halls in Dhaka, Narayanganj and the divisional towns.

They said about eight lakh people are expected to attend the festival during which the city of Dhaka would wore a festive look.

Later, the prime minister witnessed the movie "Chin Akke Chin" directed by Malay Bhattacharya.

Ministers, MPs, diplomats, filmmakers and artistes were present on the occasion.