Roid () is a 2026 Bangladeshi mystery-drama film directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon, co-written with Jaheen Faruque Amin, Siddiq Ahmed and Sukorno Shahed Dhiman, and based on a story by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon and Selina Banu Moni. It stars Mostafizur Noor Imran and Nazifa Tushi, with Ahsabul Yamin Riad, Gazi Rakayet, and Tutul Fakir in supporting roles.

The film had its world premiere in the Tiger Competition of the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam on 2 February. It was theatrically released in Bangladesh on 28 May. It was also selected as the Bangladeshi entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.

Plot The story revolves around Sadhu, his crazy wife, and the palm tree next to their house, essentially recreating a thousand-year-old narrative. However, this re-creation captures not the present of time, but the present of feeling. The atmosphere and sense of life of rural Bengal, as imagined by painter SM Sultan, are deeply intertwined throughout every layer of the film.

Cast Mostafizur Noor Imran as Sadhu Nazifa Tushi as Sadhu's wife Ahsabul Yamin Riad as Panna Gazi Rakayet Tutul Fakir

Production

Development Mejbaur Rahman Sumon announced the film Roid in 2021. Initially, actress Jaya Ahsan was associated as a producer and received a government grant of in the 2020-21 fiscal year. However, due to the delay in starting the work, Ahsan returned the grant. The film was later produced by Bongo and the Sumon's Facecard Production was associated as a co-producer.

Pre-production Roid film's team spent almost two years for searching locations for filming. Finally, they selected the locations of Sreemangal and Shah Arefin Tila in Sylhet. For the filming, various fast-growing seeds worth were planted across the filming area of about a mile. About 50 thousand trees were carefully grown for about six months. Not only that, but the house that is central to the story has also been newly constructed for filming. In the words of the director, "So much effort went into making the location not just a use, but a part of the story."

Actress Nazifa Tushi did not use shampoo, soap or any makeup on her hair for six months to portray her character in the film. She bathed only with water. To bring out the reality of the character, she stood in the sun and rubbed mustard oil on his body, causing the skin to burn, causing scars and blemishes to appear. Tushi also changed the color and shape of her teeth to suit the character. To be like the locals, she ate rock lime, which burned her mouth and tongue, making it difficult to speak. She even worked with the workers during the shooting, which helped portray the working-class side of the character's life.

Casting Nazifa Tushi, Mostafizur Noor Imran and Ahsabul Yamin Riad were joined from the beginning of filming. Gazi Rakayet, and Tutul Fakir joined to play important roles. In addition, many actors acted for the first time; especially theater artists from Khulna and Jessore also acted in the film.

Filming The shooting was supposed to begin in 2022, but it was not possible due to production delays. Principal photography began in 2024 in Bholagonj, Sylhet. One lot of the film's shooting was completed on 18 October 2024. The shooting was completed in late 2024.

Release

Marketing The trailer was released on 16 December 2025, coinciding with Independence Day.

Theatrical release The film had its world premiere in the Tiger Competition of the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam on 2 February.

It was released in Bangladeshi theaters on 28 May 2026, coinciding with Eid-al-Adha and clashing with Rockstar, Malik, Masud Rana, Bonolota Sen, Pinik, Tosnos and Officer.

Reception Wrote by Latiful Haque in Prothom Alo's survey "The location of 'Roid' is also strange. The location says a lot. It is like a primitive world with forests, rivers, mountains, rugged wilderness, and countless animals".

Wrote by Md. Yakub Ali in Jago News 24's survey "Tushi is surpassing herself day by day. She showed that she feels comfortable in all three roles with Hawa, Pressure Cooker, and Roid".

Wrote by Wahidur Rahman in Bonik Barta's survey "The visuals and acting of the film were highly praised, the story seemed quite complicated to many ordinary viewers due to its symbolic presentation".

Wrote by Masudur Rahman in The Daily Shomoyer Alo's survey "The film received a positive response from the film fraternity and the general audience".

Wrote by FI Deepu in Jugantor's survey "In this film, the loneliness of rural life, the complexity of relationships and the silent pain within people have been portrayed in a very restrained manner".

Wrote and praised by Naseef Faruque Amin in The Daily Star's survey as "The cinematography, screenplay, story, direction all of all was excellent, that emotional excavation becomes possible largely because of the extraordinary performances by Nazifa Tushi and Mostafizur Noor Imran".

See also List of submissions to the 99th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film List of Bangladeshi submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

References

External links