Celebrated filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has accepted a position in Bangladesh’s new interim government as Cultural Advisor, following Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s appointment as Chief Advisor. This interim administration took shape after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure in August amid sweeping anti-government protests, which evolved from opposition to a controversial job quota system into a broader call for change.
Farooki, known internationally as Bangladesh’s most prominent filmmaker, spoke candidly about his initial hesitation to join the cabinet, said, “I was initially hesitating to say yes to this. However, since Bangladesh is going through a rebuilding process, one part of my heart was saying, ‘Let’s try and see if some changes can be made.’ I was also tempted by the possibility of working with Nobel laureate Professor Yunus who is heading our government right now. So finally I agreed.”
Inspired by South Korean director Lee Chang-dong, who briefly served as his country’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Farooki added, “I took courage from another favorite filmmaker Lee Chang-dong who was a minister too. I thought, ‘Okay, if he could come back and continue his independent thinking, I can survive too maybe.’”
With limited authority over film policy in his new role, Farooki hopes to make an impact through Bangladesh’s Shilpokola Academy, an arts and cultural organization under his ministry’s purview. Reflecting on the recent upheaval in the country, Farooki said, “The July revolution presented us an opportunity to rebuild. If we can do it properly, it will be the most appropriate tribute to thousands of people who lost their lives, many more thousands who lost their eyes or limbs forever.”
The protests, ignited by demands to reform a job reservation system that favored independence war veterans’ families, have been a rallying point for Bangladeshis from all walks of life. Farooki described the movement as “second independence for Bangladeshi people,” uniting people across religious, cultural, and educational backgrounds. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “People are enjoying. I hope we move towards a beautiful, democratic society where there is freedom of expression, fair justice for all, and no corruption. And where there will be artistic freedom.”
The new interim government, led by Yunus, aims to steer Bangladesh through a period of transition, focusing on the vision of a more democratic and inclusive society.
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