The National Film Award 2016 was officially handed over on July 8. Actors Farida Akhter Bobita and Faruk got Lifetime Achievement Awards. They received their awards from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While distributing awards she made a commitment that would leave everyone in film industry ecstatic. She pledged to provide every kind of support she can from the government to elevate the status of our films to international standards. It might be mentioned that some measures have already been taken by the government serving as preemptive steps. These include provision for fifty crore taka for digitizing halls; barring joint-productions, imported cinemas during the two Eids, the most hyped festivals in a year.

It seems that the recent successes of certain films have encouraged the government to beef up support. Amitabh Reza Chowdhury's Aynabaji, which also grabbed the highest number of awards in this edition, started this trend while breaking box-office records for a Bangladeshi film both at home and abroad. Then, came Dhaka Attack from drama director Dipankar Dipen with massive success. A number of artistic films also joined the rank garnering critical appreciation at international festivals. The currently ongoing Komola Rocket, Haldaa, Kaler Putul and best film award winning Oggatonama figure into this list.

Noting these successes of recent films and sudden turnarounds in cinema halls Prime Minister added that filmmaking would be further developed. Digital technology would be included in all phases of film making including production, distribution works. She wished that the digital technology might reach the very villages.

At the award ceremony Best Film Award went to Oggatonama, Best Director Award went to Amitabh Reza Chowdhury for Aynabazi, Best Actor Award went to Chanchal Chowdhury for Aynabazi, Best Actress Award has been shared by Nusrat Imrose Tisha for Ostito and Kusum Sikder for Shankhachil. All these films have been appreciated.

Films are reflections human lives. A lot of messages can be delivered through films. Thus filmmaking has to be developed to improve societal lives, the PM concluded.