The government of Bangladesh will host arguably the biggest-ever panorama of films from the country at Nandan here between October 29 and November 2 as part of its attempt to showcase the “new wave” offerings of the Dhaka film industry, also called Dhallywood.

The event, to be organised by the ministry of information and broadcasting of the Bangladesh government, will be inaugurated by Hasan Mahmud, the departmental minister at the Sheikh Hasina government. “Our endeavour is to strengthen the bond between two Bengals.

The film festival is definitely a part of cultural diplomacy. We hope a large number of film lovers of the state will attend the festival,” Andalib Elias, Bangladesh deputy high commissioner in Calcutta, said at a news conference on Wednesday.

According to Elias, 31 of the 37 films have been confirmed so far. But the rest would also be confirmed soon.

The list of films to be screened includes Hawa, which is directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon and starring Chanchal Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s official nomination to the 95th Academy Awards.

Others are the 2018 docudrama Hasina: A daughter’s tale, based on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the 2021 film Chiranjeeb Mujib based on the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding father.

Several legalities bar the commercial release of films from Bangladesh in India, which is the main reason for the festival.

“The problem lies with Indian cine laws. A few years back, Bangladesh lifted a four-decade-long ban on Bollywood films. However, India’s window to films from Dhallywood is open only in film festivals,” said a source.

Bengalis in India watch Bangladesh films on OTT, he added.