On Saturday, a group of film enthusiasts in Brahmanbaria planned to do something entirely ordinary: watch a film together, discuss it, and go home.

Ten cultural organisations in Brahmanbaria have strongly condemned the cancellation of screenings of the film Bonolota Express, describing the incidents as evidence of growing intolerance toward cultural practices and freedom of expression.

Barrister Rumeen Farhana has announced that she will attend a human chain and protest programme in Brahmanbaria today in response to the reported suspension of screenings of the film “Bonolota Express”.

The Jagannath University Film Society (JnUFS) has strongly condemned what it described as fundamentalist interference in a film screening of “Bonolota Express” in Brahmanbaria, expressing deep concern over what it sees as growing attempts to obstruct cultural and creative activities across the country.

Withdrawn venue permission and lack of administrative support led to cancellation, say organisers

Following the announcement, a section of social media users began posting objections, calling for the screening to be halted on religious grounds.

Hoichoi has officially announced the premiere date for “Bonolota Express”, directed by Tanim Noor and adapted from a novel by Humayun Ahmed.

For more than two decades, Chanchal Chowdhury and Mosharraf Karim have shared a journey shaped by theatre, struggle, friendship, and an unwavering love for acting.

Shamol is currently working on “Suraiya”, a psychological drama directed by one of his favourite filmmakers, Robiul Alam Robi. Previously, they have collaborated in “Sincerely Yours, Dhaka”, and “Café Desire”. “Honestly speaking, Giasuddin Selim, Sumon Anwar and Robi are my most favourite directors I have worked with in my career. Each director has a different approach, and that’s what keeps things interesting. This story of ‘Suraiya’ is quite layered, but for now, I can’t reveal much about it just yet.”

The film continues its strong run into the third week, adding a record $40,000 to its gross during this period alone. It is currently being screened in 21 theatres across the region.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, the actor reflects on his layered role in “Bonolota Express”, the struggles behind his success, and why his hunger for great cinema remains far from satisfied.

Adapted from Humayun Ahmed’s novel “Kichukkhon”, the film features an ensemble cast of Mosharraf Karim, Chanchal Chowdhury, Sabila Nur, Azmeri Haque Badhan, Zakia Bari Mamo, Shamol Mawla and Sariful Razz.

I give credit to everyone who was with me during the making, including the artistes, scriptwriters, cinematographers, and the entire team who gave 100% of their labour and love.

Five films released this Eid-ul-Azha have entered their fourth week in theatres, with Bonolota Express emerging as the top earner among multiplex audiences. The figures are based on ticket sales from multiplex chains across Bangladesh and do not include overseas earnings.

Tanim Noor’s "Bonolota Express" has officially crossed the Tk 6 crore mark at the domestic box office, marking a significant milestone for the Eid release.

“Bonolota Express” has emerged as the highest-grossing release among this Eid’s lineup, crossing the Tk 5 crore mark within 18 days of its release, according to production sources.

“Bonolota Express”, directed by Tanim Noor, has recorded the second-highest opening of all time for a Bangladeshi film in North America.

Mosharraf Karim, widely admired across Bangladesh and beyond, continues to receive praise for his performance in the Eid release “Bonolota Express”. The film, directed by Tanim Noor, has emerged as one of the most successful releases of the season.

Following a strong opening week, “Bonolota Express” continues to perform well in cinemas, with a significant increase in show counts in its second week. The film has now overtaken Redoan Rony’s “Domm”, which had been leading in terms of screenings.

In the first week, “Bonolota Express” will run in 10 theatres in Canada, 38 in the United States, and 4 in the UK.