Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged  the film industry to focus more on the country's independence war and sacrifice of the masses besides providing entertainment. “Besides giving entertainment, films can reform the society, educate the people, imbibe them with patriotism and advance the country towards prosperity,” she said. She was speaking at a function to distribute the National Film Awards 2020 to the winners in 27 categories. Read: PM gives away National Film Awards to 32 winners The programme was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), while the PM joined it through video link from her official residence Ganobhaban. Hasina said that films mirror life and they can also reform the society. “Films can contribute hugely toward social reform, teach philosophy and history," she said. She mentioned that films can spread the facts among the mass people about the real history of the country's independence. She said people can learn about many unknown national events through films. She also mentioned that cinemas have power to help remove irregularities and indiscipline from the society. “And I believe that.” She also mentioned that films can be a poweful medium to spread the sense of responsibility and accountability towards the country and its people. The PM said that she plans to equip the film industry of the country with modern technologies. “For that we need to transform the cinema halls at the upazila level into cineplexes” she said. She said that the government has created a Tk 1000-crore fund for this purpose. She also put emphasis on transforming the analog system of old cinemas into digital one for the new generation. The Prime Minister elaborated various steps of her government for the development of the film industry and welfare of the artistes and film makers.

Legendary Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar died at a private hospital in India's financial capital Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 98. The 'Tragedy King of Bollywood' was admitted to the premier Hinduja Hospital last week after he complained of breathlessness. In fact, he had been in and out of the hospital over the past few years with age-related illnesses. "Dilip Kumar passed away due to prolonged illness at 7.30 am," Dr Jalil Parkar, a doctor who had been treating the thespian at the hospital, told the local media. Read:Bollywood actor Fatima behind Aamir Khan's divorce? The actor's family friend, Faisal Farooqui, also confirmed the death on his Twitter handle. “With a heavy heart and profound grief, I announce the passing away of our beloved Dilip saab a few minutes ago. We are from  God and to him we return." Prime Minister Narendra Modi too took to social media to offer his condolences to the family and fans of the cinematic legend. “Dilip Kumar ji will be remembered as a cinematic legend. He was blessed with unparalleled brilliance, due to which audiences across generations were enthralled. His passing away is a loss to our cultural world," Modi tweeted. Read:Superstar Aamir Khan, filmmaker wife announce divorce On Monday, his actress-wife of 50 years, Saira Banu, tweeted: “We are grateful for God's infinite mercy on Dilip Saab that his health is improving. We are still in hospital and request your prayers and duas so that Insh'Allah he is healthy and discharged soon.” Born Yusuf Khan in Peshawar (now in Pakistan) in 1922 before the partition of India, Dilip Kumar acted in 65 films in an illustrious career spanning five decades. A trendsetter in Bollywood who inspired generations of actors, Dilip Kumar won hearts of millions in India with his all-time greats like Mela, Naya Daur, Ganga Jumna, Devdas and Mughal-e-Azam. He last acted in a film in 1998. Read: Bollywood: 'There is no life without you' Apart from a number of film awards, Dilip Kumar was conferred with two of India's highest civilian awards. "To us actors, he was The Hero. #DilipKumar sir has taken an entire era of Indian cinema away with him," aptly summed up Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar in a tweet.