Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan stated that meaningful change requires repairing both the state and society through national consensus. He made the remarks on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the opening ceremony of the National Film Society Conference 2026 organized by the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies.

The minister emphasized that some work stems from humanitarian motives, while the pursuit of wealth is a separate matter. He urged those involved in art, literature, and film to clearly understand this distinction in their work. Addressing social transformation, he said that the roadmap should not only focus on the film movement but also on broader social change, avoiding any group-based ideology.

Swapan cautioned that ideology-driven change can often turn into propaganda serving group interests, noting that those bound by group loyalty cannot possess true intellectual freedom.