2026 has proved frustrating for some of Dhallywood’s most anticipated films. Soldier, Surongo 2, Andhar, Tribunal and Rongbazar entered the year with major expectations, but their release journeys have taken sharply different turns.
Delayed shoots, health complications, production hurdles and piracy have disrupted their plans. While some are still waiting for cinemas, Rongbazar reached audiences through OTT after piracy forced its planned theatrical release off course.
Shakeeb Fahad’s Soldier revolves around patriotism, action and human emotion. Shakib Khan stars opposite Tanjin Tisha, alongside Tariq Anam Khan, Tauquir Ahmed, Jannatul Ferdous Oishee and ABM Sumon. Shooting began in October last year and was initially due to finish in December, but complications delayed the schedule. In June, Shakib said he and the director’s team would travel to Bangkok to complete the remaining shoot. Produced by Sun Motion Pictures, the film has yet to receive a release date.
“Good films should not be released only during festivals; they should be released throughout the year. We will decide the timing keeping the expectations of audiences and cinema hall owners in mind,” Shakeeb Fahad said.
Interest in Surongo 2 has remained high since Surongo won eight National Film Awards after its Eid-ul-Azha release in 2023. SVF Alpha-i Entertainment announced the sequel on 12 June. Raihan Rafi returns as director, with Afran Nisho reprising Masud opposite Tama Mirza. The company is targeting a December theatrical release, but Rafi has yet to disclose when shooting will begin or how far production has progressed.
Rafi’s horror film Andhar, announced last year for a 2026 release, stars Siam Ahmed, Nazifa Tushi, Chanchal Chowdhury, Afsana Mimi, Gazi Rakayet and Mustafa Monwar, alongside debutants Farrukh Ahmed Rehan and Swarnali Choity. Shooting and dubbing finished long ago. Post-production and editing are now under way in Mumbai, where Rafi and co-producer Adnan Adib Khan are based. Screenwriter and co-producer Shakib Chowdhury said the film could arrive in the latter part of this year.
“We have worked behind the scenes for so long. We tried to make a film that will give you a completely new experience. We want to release the film this year,” Rafi told TIMES of Bangladesh.
Raihan Khan’s courtroom drama Tribunal has faced both production and personal hurdles. Based on the true story of a woman burned to death after kerosene was poured over her in Chattogram in 2011, the film was announced last December with around 70 per cent of filming complete. It targeted a 2026 Eid release, but both Eids have passed without filming wrapping up.
As an independent production, the film has faced budget complications. Work on the remaining scenes has also stalled amid personal circumstances involving key cast members Tania Brishty and Mousumi Hamid. Tania announced in February that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. She has undergone two surgeries and is preparing for a third. Moushumi recently announced at an event that she had remarried and is expecting a child.
The film also stars Tariq Anam Khan, Ador Azad, Saberi Alam, Rakib Hossain Evon, Saira Akter Jahan, Milon Bhattacharya and Shahed Ali, with Nusraat Faria in a special role. A source close to the production told TIMES that the team hopes to complete the remaining shooting this year.
Rongbazar, meanwhile, reached audiences — but not cinemas. Based on a true story, Rashid Polash’s film was shot largely at the Daulatdia brothel in Rajbari. It stars Peya Jannatul, Mousumi Hamid, Tanzika Amin, Shampa Reza, Naznin Hasan Chumki, Lutfor Rahman George and Mahmudul Islam Mithu.
Produced by Live Technologies, the film was scheduled for a theatrical release during Eid-ul-Fitr. But before that could happen, the entire film leaked online. Following the piracy of its digital copy and its rapid spread, the producers abandoned the planned cinema release and released Rongbazar directly on an OTT platform on 18 May.
“The film was pirated a few days ago. We tried to resolve the problem. But it spread so widely that it was impossible to remove it from everywhere. So we stepped away from the decision to release it in cinemas,” Rashid Polash told TIMES.
The director remains hopeful that Rongbazar will eventually receive a big-screen release.
Five films, five different setbacks — and a revealing snapshot of just how unpredictable Dhallywood’s 2026 release calendar has become.
