Dbarta24 Desk — Biman Bangladesh Airlines has addressed recent social media discussions regarding the removal of two acclaimed Bangladeshi feature films, Lalsalu and Chitra Nodi Pare, from its in-flight entertainment catalog, clarifying that the change is part of routine operational updates.
The national flag carrier explained that the decision stems from standard content rotation policies, licensing expiration, and aircraft server storage limitations, rather than any ban or creative restriction.
In-Flight Content Rotation and Technical Constraints
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel, both Lalsalu (2001) and Chitra Nodi Pare (1998) are celebrated works in Bangladeshi cinema, having won multiple National Film Awards.
The films had been available to passengers aboard Biman flights for over a decade through Black and White, a media distribution firm providing content for the airline.
According to Kazi Reeton, owner of Black and White, the distributor was informed approximately two months ago that screening for these two titles would be paused.
“We were informed that the films had been shown for over ten years, leading to the decision to suspend them temporarily,” Reeton said. “They may be re-introduced at a later date.”
Addressing public inquiries, Mohiuddin Ahmed, General Manager of Public Relations at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, provided further context on the mechanics of in-flight entertainment (IFE) management.
“Biman Bangladesh Airlines regularly updates its in-flight movie, TV show, and audio playlists, typically on a quarterly basis,” Ahmed stated in a written response. “These changes are driven by licensing agreements, server storage constraints, and passenger satisfaction.”
He further noted that the airline does not own the intellectual property rights to the content it streams. Instead, Biman acquires temporary screening licenses via media brokers and content service providers. Once a licensing cycle ends, the airline is legally required to remove the media files.
Additionally, physical onboard server space is strictly limited, requiring older files to be removed to accommodate new content cycles.