"What's the point of keeping the hall? We can't even cover staff salaries except during Eid." With that stark admission, S M Yunus, the manager of Modhuban Cineplex in Bogura, summed up the quiet collapse of one of the region's most cherished cultural spaces. Once a bustling centre of film entertainment, the Cineplex — formerly the historic Modhuban Cinema Hall — is now being converted into a community centre.

The transformation marks the end of an era for Bogura's filmgoers. The cinema, modernised a few years ago to meet the demands of a changing audience, had initially raised hopes of revival. But outside the two Eid seasons, the hall struggled to draw enough visitors to cover even its basic operating costs. The losses eventually forced its closure in September this year.

In a conversation with Prothom Alo, Yunus, the elder son of the hall's owner, said the decision was made out of necessity. "We've kept the hall running as long as we could, but it's no longer sustainable. We're now preparing to turn the outdoor section into a community centre. At least that way, the space will serve a purpose."

He pointed to a deeper, systemic problem in the country's film exhibition sector — one he believes stems from governmental neglect. "The authorities have shown no real support. We've attended meetings and raised our concerns, but nothing has changed. If cinema halls are to survive, the government must allow us to import foreign films — not just Hindi, but Hollywood productions as well."

The Yunus family plans to wait until the upcoming national election before making any long-term decisions. "If the new government extends support to the industry, we'll reconsider reopening the hall," Yunus said. "Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to shut it down completely."

His father, Rokonuzzaman Yunus, the hall's original owner, voiced similar frustration earlier. "The lack of quality local films and the government's indifference have made it impossible to continue," he said. "Electricity bills, staff salaries — nothing adds up anymore. The audience is shrinking, and the costs are unbearable."

"It's not just a business for us — it's a part of our lives. But passion alone can't sustain a hall. After upgrading to a cineplex, our expenses increased several times. Without viewers, closure was inevitable," he continued. 

The story of Modhuban Cineplex mirrors a nationwide trend. Across Bangladesh, once-vibrant movie halls are dimming their lights for the last time, caught between rising costs, dwindling audiences, and the absence of a coherent cultural policy.