99th Academy Awards: ‘Roid’ reflects Bangladesh’s evolving ambitions
Bangladesh’s pursuit of global cinematic recognition has taken another significant step as “Roid”, directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, was officially selected to represent the country at the 99th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category.
The announcement was made at a press conference titled “Meet the Press”, held at the Padma Hall of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The programme began at 11:15am, where members of the Oscar Bangladesh Committee, filmmakers, producers and industry professionals gathered to announce the country’s official submission for the world’s most prestigious film award.
Speaking at the event, representatives of the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFSS) highlighted the steady growth of Bangladeshi cinema, noting that local films have become increasingly diverse, artistically ambitious and internationally relevant over the years. The speakers expressed hope that continued progress in storytelling and filmmaking would eventually lead Bangladesh towards achieving greater recognition on the global Oscar stage.
The Oscar Bangladesh Committee, formed under the initiative of BFSS, selected Roid after a detailed evaluation process among the submitted films. A total of five films were initially submitted within the deadline of September 16, 2026, for consideration in the International Feature Film category. The submissions included Redoan Rony’s “Domm”, Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s “Roid”, Nurul Alam Atique’s “Manusher Bagan”, Mohammad Touqir Islam’s “Delupi”, and Monirul Akash Haque’s “The University of Chankharpul”. Later, “Manusher Bagan” voluntarily withdrew from the competition.
Following extensive discussions and analysis, the six-member selection committee reached a consensus to nominate “Roid” as Bangladesh’s official entry for the 99th Academy Awards.
The committee was chaired by Dr Mohammad Zahirul Islam Kochi, President of Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFFS). Other members included Sajjad Sharif, Shaheen Dill-Riaz, Rashed Zaman, Saiyeed Shahjada Al Kareem, Aupee Karim and Shahreen Akter Sumi.
The event also brought together key members of the competing films and the broader film community. Producer of “Roid” Tanveer Hossain, director of “Delupi” Mohammad Touqir Islam, actress Nazifa Tushi, and actor Rocky Khan from “The University of Chankharpul” were among those present.
A significant discussion point during the event was the increasing importance of women’s participation behind the camera. Speakers emphasised the need to encourage more women filmmakers, technicians and cinematographers in Bangladesh, highlighting how women across the world are receiving greater recognition for their creative contributions in the international film industry.
The selection of “Roid” represents more than just an Oscar submission. It reflects the evolving identity of Bangladeshi cinema, where filmmakers are increasingly exploring unique narratives, artistic expressions and socially relevant themes. The journey also highlights the efforts of a new generation of filmmakers who are aiming to place Bangladeshi stories on a wider global platform. Tushi said, “This is a big achievement for me. I was delighted when ‘Hawa’ was selected last time and I am equally happy about ‘Roid’.”
While the road to the final Oscar nomination remains competitive, Bangladesh’s continued participation in the Academy Awards demonstrates the country’s growing ambition and confidence in its film industry.
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