Bangladesh’s band music scene, rich with decades of creativity, rebellion, and reinvention, is poised to witness a landmark moment through Bangladesh Television’s special production Band Festival 2025. At the heart of this ambitious initiative stand two towering figures of the country’s modern music history—lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi and composer Fuad Naser Babu—whose combined artistry has shaped countless iconic songs over the years.
For the first time in the nation’s band music history, a single television programme has commissioned ten brand-new original songs for ten celebrated bands, all written by one lyricist and composed by one musician. This rare and audacious creative unity sets Band Festival 2025 apart as an unprecedented cultural event.
The participating bands—Feedback, Souls, Renaissance, Dalchhut, Shironamhin, Nirjhor, Tarun, Parthib, Pentagon, and Nova—represent multiple generations and stylistic strands of Bangladeshi band music. Each band performs a newly crafted song tailored to its unique sonic identity, a feat achieved through the close collaboration between Jangi’s evocative lyricism and Babu’s adaptive, band-conscious compositions.
Recorded at BTV’s in-house studio set, the programme will be broadcast in two episodes on 30 and 31 December, airing nightly at 10:00 pm. However, Band Festival 2025 is far more than a performance showcase. Alongside the music, viewers will hear reflective conversations with band members about their creative journeys, the making of the new songs, and their perspectives on the evolution of Bangladesh’s band culture. Lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi and composer Fuad Naser Babu also appear on screen, offering rare insights into the creative process behind this collective endeavour.
Broadcast Schedule
| Date | Performing Bands |
|---|---|
| 30 December | Nirjhor, Dalchhut, Tarun, Renaissance, Shironamhin |
| 31 December | Parthib, Pentagon, Feedback, Nova, Souls |
Speaking about the project, Shahid Mahmud Jangi remarked that this might be the first instance in Bangladeshi television history where ten bands have premiered ten new songs within a single programme. He described the initiative as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to younger audiences while preserving artistic integrity. He also praised Fuad Naser Babu for his relentless effort in maintaining each band’s individuality within a unified framework.
Composer Fuad Naser Babu acknowledged the pressure of creating multiple original compositions within a tight timeframe, calling it a formidable challenge and expressing gratitude to BTV for backing such a bold concept.
Veteran musician Partha Barua, lead vocalist of Souls, noted that working with Jangi and Babu was an offer no band could refuse, recalling BTV’s historic role in nurturing the band movement since its early days.
Produced by Golam Morshed, written by Ahmed Tepantar, art-directed by Sharmin Nigar, and presented by Ferdous Bappi, Band Festival 2025 stands not merely as a television programme, but as a state-backed recognition of Bangladesh’s band culture—one that honours its past while inspiring its future.