The PM made the call while she was inaugurating the 15-day-long 3rd International Film Festival Bangladesh 2006 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy auditorium in the city.

"Now humanity crisis skirted worldwide. Our present time is roughed up with envy, malice, clash, war and bloodshed. Peace, humanity, friendship, equality and cry for love are striking at the closed door of power," she told the function. Noted filmmakers, producers and artistes from home and abroad attended the function.

All have to thwart this backward journey of illuminating modern civilisation that has been left into the darkness, she observed and urged the celluloid men not to turn their creativity to serve as the lackeys of investors and vested interest.

The PM said an irresponsible syndicate is spreading pollution in films taking the advantage of profound weakness of cinema-loving people, which is more dangerous than that of environment pollution.

She told the audience that her government has already taken stern measures to stop production of filthy and copy films.

Khaleda said her government has been extending cooperation in making creative films and it will continue.

The theme of this year's international film festival is "Film for the People."

A total of 111 films of 60 different countries will be screened during the filming carnival, jointly organised by Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies and the International Federation of Film Societies.

The cinemas will be screened at the national museum auditorium, public library auditorium, Star Cineplex and major cinema halls in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Chittagong.

Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies leader Azad Rahman and festival director Golam Rabbani Biplob also spoke at the inaugural function with festival committee chairman Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, chairman of the Privatisation Board, in the chair.

"Ontor Jatra" directed by internationally reputed Bangladeshi filmmaker Tareq Masud and Catherin Masud was screened at the inaugural function.

Addressing the function Khaleda said country's cinema, which has already passed 50 years, started journey with immense potential.

A good number of remarkable artistic quality films and fair commercial cinemas were made in the country during the long period that has gone by, she said. But that tradition was not sustained for various reasons.

In this regard, she called upon educated, elegant and talented filmmakers to come forward to stop the slide.

She called for making lifelike, artistic, aesthetic and appealing films that will successfully reflect and authentically screen a beautiful Bangladesh, life and struggle of nice people of the country and their hopes and aspiration, smile and cry, present, past and the future.

She hoped that the days are not far off when Bangladesh's films would earn dignity and honor in the world forum.

"I am looking forward to that day," Khaleda said hoping that filmmakers will fulfill the desire of the countrymen.

The PM said this film festival, during which artistic cinemas of different countries will be screened, will be helpful for the viewers and filmmakers of the country in identifying their respective positions as well as keep role in deciding the means of future work.

"This international film festival is another positive aspect of globalisation," she said.