Bangladesh’s rich and colourful band music history has been shaped by countless iconic songs, many of which bear the creative imprint of lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi and composer Fouad Naser Babu. This year, the two veteran musicians have embarked on an unprecedented and ambitious project. For Bangladesh Television’s special programme, “Band Festival 2025”, they have jointly composed ten brand-new original songs, each to be performed by one of the country’s ten leading bands.
The participating bands are Feedback, Souls, Renaissance, Dolchhut, Shironamhin, Nirjhor, Tarun, Parthib, Pentagon, and Nova. Every song’s lyrics have been penned by Shahid Mahmud Jangi, while the music has been composed by Fouad Naser Babu—a rare occurrence in the annals of Bangladeshi band music, where typically multiple lyricists and composers collaborate.
The performances were recorded at BTV’s in-house studio and will be broadcast over two consecutive nights, 30 and 31 December, at 10:00 PM. Beyond mere performances, each band will discuss their new songs, musical approach, and experiences, with insights from Shahid Mahmud Jangi and Fouad Naser Babu themselves.
The programme is produced by Golam Morshed, scripted by Ahmed Tepantar, with artistic direction by Sharmin Nigar, and hosted by Ferdous Bappy.
Performance Schedule:
| Date | Bands Performing |
|---|---|
| 30 December | Nirjhor, Dolchhut, Tarun, Renaissance, Shironamhin |
| 31 December | Parthib, Pentagon, Feedback, Nova, Souls |
Speaking about the initiative, Shahid Mahmud Jangi said:
“This is likely the first time in Bangladesh’s band music history that ten bands have performed ten original songs for a single television programme. What makes it even more special is that one lyricist and one composer have crafted all the songs. The authorities gave me an opportunity to contribute to the youth, and I have tried sincerely. My heartfelt thanks to Fouad Naser Babu, who worked tirelessly to preserve the uniqueness of each band.”
Composer Fouad Naser Babu added:
“Composing original music for so many bands in such a short time was undoubtedly a significant challenge. How it has turned out is for the audience to judge. I am grateful to BTV for this bold initiative.”
Partha Barua, lead vocalist of Souls, commented:
“To sing songs with lyrics by Shahid Mahmud Jangi and music by Fouad Naser Babu is an opportunity one cannot refuse. BTV has always supported Souls, and I hope such initiatives become regular.”
In sum, “Band Festival 2025” is more than just a musical event. It is a state-recognised celebration of Bangladesh’s band culture, inspiring both the present and future generations of musicians.