Curtain falls on Monihar: Iconic hall to make way for markets and hotels

For more than four decades, the Monihar Cinema Hall in Jashore stood as a proud symbol of Bangladesh's golden age of movie-going. Once celebrated as the largest single-screen hall in the country and even Asia's second-largest of its kind, it was a place where families lined up for tickets, shows ran houseful for weeks, and legends of the silver screen visited in person. But that era is now drawing to a close.

The owners of Monihar have announced that the historic theatre will soon be torn down to make space for a modern commercial complex, complete with a shopping market, residential hotel, and possibly even a small cineplex. For the staff and the community, the news marks the end of an institution that shaped not only local culture but also Bangladesh's cinematic identity.

Monihar had its inception in 1983 out of the vision of businessman Sirajul Islam, who wanted to give Jashore something more than a business—a landmark of art and culture. 

Designed by architect Kazi Mohammad Hanif and adorned under the supervision of famed artist SM Sultan, the four-story air-conditioned hall had 1,430 seats, lavish chandeliers, murals, and even fountains. 

Its inaugural film was 'Jony', starring Sohel Rana and Sucharita. Over the years, more than 1,500 films screened there, including blockbusters like 'Beder Meye Josna', 'Monpura', and 'Aynabaji'.

In its heyday, the hall would see lines stretching outside as hundreds of people were turned away from sold-out shows. "Earlier, when a show started, all 1,430 seats would be full, and still more people would be waiting outside. Many left without watching because they couldn't get a ticket," recalled longtime employee Molla Faruk Hossain, his voice heavy with nostalgia.

A struggle to survive

But as the decades passed, the glamour faded. The rise of digital entertainment, piracy, and the decline in the quality of local films hit hard. Family audiences, once the backbone of cinema culture, began to disappear. "Now we are forced to repeat the same old movies again and again. People aren't interested anymore," Hossain admitted.

Operating such a large hall became unsustainable. "Our hall is big, with many staff and high electricity bills. Ticket sales don't even cover expenses, let alone profit. Constant losses have made it impossible to continue," Hossain said. "That's why we decided to close Monihar. You simply can't run a hall on losses forever."

Although the main hall will shut down, the smaller 71-seat cineplex inside the building will remain open for now. "If the business environment improves, we will reopen the main hall," Hossain added with cautious optimism.

The decision to demolish Monihar was not taken lightly. But the management sees no alternative. With maintenance costs spiraling and audiences dwindling, they are planning a redevelopment project to secure the site's future. 

"We may build a market, a residential hotel, and possibly a new cineplex. The architectural design work has already started," explained Managing Director Ziaul Islam, son of the hall's founder.

For employees who devoted their lives to the hall, the change feels bittersweet. "Monihar is in my blood," said projectionist Shafiuddin Mintu, who has worked there since 1983. "I've spent my whole career here, through the days of film reels to the digital era. To see it close is heartbreaking."

The final act

The fall of Monihar is part of a larger story: the collapse of single-screen theatres across Bangladesh. In Jashore alone, 20 cinema halls have already shut down, most replaced by markets or apartments. Poor-quality films, lack of family-friendly content, and competition from television and streaming platforms have left audiences with little reason to go to the cinema.

Cultural activists argue that the decline of Monihar mirrors the fragile state of the national film industry. "If good-quality films are not made, then the government must consider importing them to save theatres," Hossain suggested. Without intervention, he warned, more halls will vanish.

For now, Monihar remains open, showing a handful of films to sparse audiences. But its fate is sealed. The same building that once echoed with applause and laughter will soon transform into a marketplace of shops and hotel rooms.

To many in Jashore, the end of Monihar feels like the end of an era. Yet, as Hossain pointed out, hope is not lost entirely, "People will come back to cinemas if good films are made. That much I believe. But until then, we must move forward."