Bangladesh has another story to tell on the world’s biggest film stage. Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s Roid has been selected as Bangladesh’s official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, carrying a story of love found in silence.
The decision was announced on Sunday, 27 September, at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka. Roid emerged from five submissions after evaluation by a seven-member Oscar Bangladesh Committee. The others were Redoan Rony’s Domm, Monirul Akash Haque’s The University of Chankharpul, Mohammad Touqir Islam’s Delupi and Nurul Alam Atique’s Manusher Bagan.
“The feeling is good, joyful. Because this is our story, the story of our region. The story moves through our culture and our way of thinking,” Sumon said, stressing that cinema also has academic and aesthetic dimensions. He called the selection a hopeful sign after years of better-quality Bangladeshi films reaching the Oscars.
Roid centres on a sage and his mentally unstable wife, exploring primal human love through affection and silence. Siddiq Ahmed, Sumon, Zahid Faruk and Sukorno Shahed Dhiman wrote the screenplay. Mostafizur Noor Imran and Nazifa Tushi lead the cast.
Tushi said the selection could create new opportunities for Bangladeshi cinema and introduce its stories, culture and filmmaking to wider audiences.
The committee was chaired by Zahirul Islam, with Sajjad Sharif, Shaheen Dill-Riaz, Rashed Zaman, Aupee Karim, Saiyid Shahzada Al Kareem and Shahrin Akter Sumi.
Roid is Sumon’s second Oscar journey after Hawa represented Bangladesh at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023. Bangladesh’s previous entries began with Tareque Masud’s The Matir Moina (2002), followed by Shyamol Chhaya (2005), Forever Flows (2006), Swopnodanay (2007), Aha! (2008), Beyond the Circle (2009), Third Person Singular Number (2010), Ghetuputra Komola (2012), Television (2013), Jonakir Alo (2014), Jalaler Golpo (2015), Oggatonama (2016), Khacha (2017), Doob (2018), Alpha (2019), Sincerely Yours, Dhaka (2020), Rehana Maryam Noor (2021), Hawa (2022), No Ground Beneath the Feet (2023), Boli (2024) and Barir Nam Shahana (2025). None received an Oscar nomination.
Roid must now clear the Academy’s selection process. The shortlist is due on 15 December 2026, nominations on 21 January 2027 and the 99th Oscars on 14 March 2027.
