Bangladesh has selected ‘Barir Naam Shahana’ as its official entry for the International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, but the decision has already triggered debate within the country’s film industry.
The selection was announced by the Oscar Bangladesh Committee, formed under the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies (BFFS). This year, five films were submitted for consideration: ‘Saba’, ‘Barir Naam Shahana’, ‘Nakshi Kanthar Jamin’, ‘Priyo Maloti’ and ‘Moyna’.
While the committee defended its decision, several filmmakers and producers questioned whether another contender—particularly ‘Saba’—would have offered Bangladesh a stronger Oscar submission.
Five Films Were in the Race
The competition was more substantial this year, with five Bangladeshi productions reportedly entering the selection process.
Among them was ‘Saba’, which has received international exposure through screenings at festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Busan International Film Festival and Red Sea International Film Festival.
Its festival journey and international critical attention led some filmmakers to argue that it had a stronger profile for an Academy campaign.
Adnan Al Rajeev, producer of ‘Priyo Maloti’, and Manjurul Islam Megh, director of ‘Moyna’, were among those who publicly questioned aspects of the decision.
Filmmakers Question Why ‘Saba’ Was Not Chosen
Following the announcement, Al Rajeev expressed his disappointment on Facebook, arguing that ‘Saba’ would have been a stronger option if the objective was to maximise Bangladesh’s chances at the Oscars.
Filmmaker Abu Shahed Emon also highlighted ‘Saba’s’ international credentials. He pointed to its appearances at major festivals and its reception among prominent international film figures, along with coverage in publications including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Screen Daily.
The debate, therefore, has focused less on whether ‘Barir Naam Shahana’ is a worthy film and more on which of the five contenders was best positioned to represent Bangladesh on the international stage.
Questions Raised About the Jury
The criticism has also extended to the composition and transparency of the selection committee.
Filmmaker and academic Razibul Hossain alleged that lobbying and flawed judgment may have influenced the outcome. He argued that Bangladesh’s selection process has repeatedly faced similar problems and questioned whether the country was making the most effective choices for its national Oscar representation.
Director Manjurul Islam Megh similarly called for greater transparency regarding the jury.
“Were the jurors qualified? Shouldn’t we first analyse how the jury was formed before debating which film was best?” he said.
The comments have shifted part of the discussion toward the selection mechanism itself, rather than simply comparing the films.
Who Selected Bangladesh’s Oscar Entry?
The selection committee was chaired by Dr. Mohammad Zahirul Islam.
Its members were:
- Sajjad Sharif, critic
- Rashed Zaman, cinematographer
- Shahrin Akhter Sumi, producer
- Shaheen Dil-Riyaz, director
- Professor SM Imran Hossain
The committee was responsible for evaluating the five submissions and choosing a single film to represent Bangladesh.
Committee Chairman Rejects Bias Allegations
Dr. Zahirul Islam rejected suggestions that the selection was influenced by bias.
“Have those who raised objections watched all five films?” he asked.
He maintained that all five submissions had their own merits and that selecting only one film naturally made the decision difficult.
“The other four submissions were just as worthy. But since only one film could be finally sent, it was a difficult decision,” he said.
His comments underline the committee’s position that the outcome was the result of evaluating a competitive group of films rather than an indication that the unsuccessful entries lacked quality.
‘Barir Naam Shahana’ Producer Responds to the Debate
Arifur Rahman, producer of ‘Barir Naam Shahana’, chose not to directly engage with the criticism surrounding the selection.
Instead, he suggested that the unusually high number of submissions contributed to the public debate.
“Earlier, there was no debate when only one film was submitted. This time since several films were in contention, the announcement naturally created excitement. I would have been happy with any of the films being chosen, not just ours,” he said.
Rahman also said producers did not know the identities of the jury members until the press conference.
According to him, seeing the names gave the producers confidence in the panel.
“Once we saw the names, we were confident they would choose the film that truly deserved nomination,” he added.
The Oscar Race Now Moves Forward
With ‘Barir Naam Shahana’ officially selected, attention will now turn to Bangladesh’s campaign for the 98th Academy Awards.
The controversy surrounding the domestic selection is likely to continue, particularly among filmmakers who believe ‘Saba’ had stronger international credentials.
However, the committee has defended its evaluation, while the producer of the selected film has welcomed the decision without dismissing the merits of the other contenders.
Ultimately, ‘Barir Naam Shahana’ will carry Bangladesh’s official submission forward. Whether it advances in the Academy’s International Feature Film race will depend on the subsequent stages of the Oscar selection process.
