BTV’s ‘Band Festival 2025’: Ten Bands, Ten Original Songs on One Stage

Bangladesh’s band music scene, celebrated for its rich heritage and vibrant history, has produced countless iconic songs over the decades. Among the most influential contributors are lyricist Shahid Mahmud Zangi and composer Foad Naser Babu, whose creative genius has left an indelible mark on the nation’s musical landscape. This year, the duo has embarked on an unprecedented endeavour: crafting ten entirely new songs specifically for Bangladesh Television’s (BTV) special programme, Band Festival 2025, which will be performed by ten of the country’s leading bands.

The participating bands include: Feedback, Souls, Renaissance, Dolchhut, Shironamhin, Nirjhor, Torun, Parthib, Pentagon, and Nova. Each of the ten songs bears the signature lyrics of Shahid Mahmud Zangi, set to music composed by Foad Naser Babu. While collaborations between multiple lyricists and composers are common in Bangladesh’s band industry, this singular partnership—where one lyricist and one composer have full creative control over all the festival songs—is a rare and noteworthy phenomenon.

All recordings have taken place in BTV’s in-house studio, ensuring high-quality production values. The programme will air over two nights, 30 and 31 December at 10:00 PM, offering audiences more than just performances; each band will highlight the story behind their song, its musical arrangement, and their artistic vision. Both Shahid Mahmud Zangi and Foad Naser Babu will be present on stage to provide insights and commentary throughout the festival.

The festival is produced by Golam Morshed, with screenplay by Ahmed Tepantar, creative direction by Sharmin Nigar, and hosted by Ferdous Bappy.

Performance Schedule:

Shahid Mahmud Zangi remarked:

“This may well be the first time in the history of Bangladeshi band music that ten bands are performing ten entirely new songs simultaneously. Having a single lyricist and composer oversee all the creations makes this project even more special. I am grateful to Foad Naser Babu for his tireless work in preserving each band’s unique identity.”

Composer Foad Naser Babu added:

“Composing original music for ten bands in such a short time was undoubtedly a challenge. Ultimately, it is the audience who will judge its success. I sincerely appreciate BTV for taking this bold initiative.”

Partha Barua, lead vocalist of Souls, commented:

“No one would want to miss the opportunity to perform Shahid Mahmud Zangi’s lyrics set to Foad Naser Babu’s music. BTV has always supported Souls, and we hope such initiatives continue regularly.”

In essence, Band Festival 2025 is far more than a musical programme; it is a state-recognised celebration of Bangladesh’s band culture, poised to inspire both current and future generations of music enthusiasts.