Creative economy needs unified strategy: experts

The government should craft a single, comprehensive strategy covering every sector of the creative economy, from film and theatre to crafts and publishing, according to industry insiders.

Building a supportive policy ecosystem and setting clear result benchmarks are central to unlocking the sector’s potential nationally, they said at a virtual event organised by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) yesterday.

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The national budget for FY2026-27 has, for the first time, set aside Tk 800 crore for the creative economy -- Tk 300 crore in direct allocation and a further Tk 500 crore through Bangladesh Bank’s CSR fund.

The initiative aims to lift the sector’s GDP contribution, create jobs for nearly five lakh people, and build a “Created in Bangladesh” brand spanning film, music, publishing, digital content, and design.

Redoan Rony, film director, producer, and CEO of streaming platform Chorki, said the country needs “a core strategy across all sectors, not just film or theatre, but crafts as well.”

He believes that Bangladesh has many talented people, but they need better skills development and training based on successful international models “We have a large workforce and low labour costs, from film to every other area. We can do this.”

Tanim Noor, film director and producer, said a dedicated taxation policy, such as a 50 percent tax exemption for the film industry, could significantly boost investment in Bangladeshi cinema.

He noted that nearly 200,000 people were directly employed in the industry during its golden era in the 1970s and ‘80s, counting cinema halls and related sub-sectors. Today, combining OTT platforms, cinema halls, and technologies like post-production and VFX, the sector could employ up to 10 lakh people.

The market size of this sector could be expanded to Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 crore, he said, adding that this would generate Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 crore in annual government revenue.

Luva Nahid Choudhury, director general of Bengal Foundation, called structural reforms and a central commission essential for the sector’s sustainable development, along with legal enforcement of artists’ intellectual property rights and royalties.

She noted that Indian artists have a right to non-transferable remuneration, while Bangladesh lacks proper copyright enforcement.

Mahrukh Mohiuddin, managing director of publishing company University Press Limited, said piracy, both traditional and digital, particularly the illegal spread of books online, has taken on epidemic proportions, breaking the backbone of publishers.

She blamed the country’s “weak” copyright law and lack of proper enforcement for the rise in the illegal activity.

Bakar Bokul, playwright and creative director of theatre troupe Tarua, said governments have historically used the arts as a “propaganda machine,” implementing their own agendas under the guise of cultural activism while genuine artists go unsupported, leaving theatre and other art forms trapped in this cycle.

Tauhid Bin Abdus Salam, managing director of Classical Handmade Products BD Limited, said expanding handicrafts into international markets requires blending traditional skills with designs and colours that meet global demand.

Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of PPRC, said Bangladesh’s creative economy now needs a policy ecosystem to match its potential.

“A one-dimensional infrastructure approach will not take us forward. We need quality infrastructure supported by sustainable management models built on public-private partnerships,” he said.