Syed Nazim Ud Daula (better known as Nazim Ud Daula) is a Bangladeshi author, screenwriter, and former corporate professional. He is known for writing modern thriller and action-oriented books, films, and web series screenplays in Bangladesh. He has penned the screenplay and dialogues for commercially successful and widely discussed films such as Surongo (2023), Damal (2022), Shaan (2022), and Operation Sundarbans (2022). In 2025, due to professional dissatisfaction and payment-related complications, he announced his retirement from professional screenwriting. He jointly won the National Film Award for Best Story with Raihan Rafi in 2026 for the film Surongo. Currently, he is focused on writing literature.
Early life and education Nazim Ud Daula completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from the University of Dhaka. After finishing his education, he briefly taught as a lecturer at a private university in 2016. However, lacking interest in teaching, he later joined the corporate sector and engaged in creative work.
Career Literary career Nazim Ud Daula has been practicing writing since his teenage years. Initially, he wrote on various blog sites and Facebook. In 2012, his first story, 'Kobi' (Poet), was published in the 'Kalantor Sahitya Samayiki' (Kalantor Literary Magazine). While studying at the University of Dhaka, his first thriller novel, Incarnation, was published at the 2015 Ekushey Book Fair. In August of the same year, his second novel, a historical thriller titled Bloodstone, was published. These two books brought him immense popularity among readers during his student life. By 2019, he had published five books. His notable literary works include Mohajatra, Mithya Tumi Dosh Pipra, Scarlet, Bridge Rokkhok, Sotyer Moto Bodmash, and the Detective Mansur series books Prohelika, Kuhelika, and Jobonika.
Corporate and advertising world After completing his studies, he briefly worked as a lecturer at a private university. However, driven by his interest in creative work, he left teaching and entered the advertising industry. From 2017 to 2018, he served as a Project Manager at an agency named 'Geeky Social'. He subsequently joined the digital marketing agency 'Analyzen Bangladesh Limited', where he worked for four years. In November 2022, he resigned from his position as 'Creative Supervisor' at Analyzen. During his time there, he used the pseudonym 'Masud Rana'. Later, he also worked as a Creative Manager at the production company 'Alpha-i'. Working in advertising agencies for a long time helped him acquire the technical skills of storytelling and screenwriting.
Screenwriting and films In 2018, after reading his book Mohajatra, Abdul Aziz, the head of Jaaz Multimedia, found the vibe of 'Masud Rana' in his writing style. Consequently, he offered Nazim to write the screenplay for the film MR-9: Do or Die (2023). This was his first project as a screenwriter. To prepare, he completed a two-month virtual screenwriting course from an institution in Hollywood. He prepared about 16 drafts of the film's screenplay and showed them to the original author, Qazi Anwar Hussain, who highly praised the script. However, Nazim noted that due to technical complications and foreign locations, the film's shooting could not fully follow his original screenplay.
Although his career began with a film screenwriting offer, his formal journey started through the small screen. In 2018, Vicky Zahed directed the short film Aaj Amar Pala based on his story. He also wrote the screenplay for Vicky Zahed's drama Lovers Food Van. In 2021, Nazim wrote the screenplays for two fiction episodes, Akash Bhora Tara and Ek Bhai Champa, from the 'Shortcut' series directed by Shafayet Mansoor Rana for the OTT platform Bioscope. He also worked on Sanjay Samaddar's web fiction Lohar Tori. His other notable web contents include The Dark Side of Dhaka, Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi, Buker Moddhye Agun, Shuklopokkho, and The Silence.
His feature film debut was the 2022 film Shaan, directed by M. Raahim. This was his first screenplay to be released on the big screen. Following this, he wrote the screenplays for Dipankar Dipon's Operation Sundarbans (2022) and Raihan Rafi's Damal (2022). Regarding Damal, he mentioned that due to technical limitations, his screenplay could not be entirely translated onto the screen.
Nazim Ud Daula's screenwriting philosophy involves blending commercial and artistic elements in films. Even when considering the Censor Board, controversial topics, or the political situation, he generally structures the story in his own way first and later modifies it according to the director's and producer's demands. He has frequently collaborated with directors like Raihan Rafi, Sunny Sanwar, and Dipankar Dipon. He claims that about 95 percent of his screenplay was faithfully portrayed on screen in Raihan Rafi's Surongo (2023). During the scripting of Surongo, he regularly visited the shooting spot and instantly planned and wrote the scenes inside the tunnel while sitting on the set. He even injured his leg once during the filming of this movie.
His final works as a professional screenwriter include Insaaf (2025) and NeelChokro (2025).
Retirement announcement and controversy On 18 September 2025, Nazim Ud Daula announced on social media that he would no longer work as a professional screenwriter. He alleged that the Bangladeshi entertainment industry does not give writers the respect, credit, and proper remuneration they deserve. Out of frustration over unpaid dues and lack of proper evaluation of his work, he expressed regret over turning from a "creative writer" into a "commissioned writer".
Currently, he is focusing entirely on writing original literature. Even after receiving the National Film Award in 2026, he told the media that he would not return to professional screenwriting.
Personal life Nazim Ud Daula is married and has one child. After taking a break from writing for the screen, he is currently running his own startup business.
Notable works
Films Year Title Role Director Notes 2022 Shaan Screenplay M. Raahim Operation Sundarbans Dipankar Dipon Damal Raihan Rafi 2023 Surongo Won –Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Screenplay Writer; wroted the screenplay jointly with Raihan Rafi MR-9: Do or Die Asif Akbar Bangladesh–US joint production 2025 NeelChokro Story and Screenplay Mithu Khan Insaaf: Tale of Legends Sanjay Samaddar
Web series Year Title Role Director OTT Platform 2023 The Silence Screenplay Vicky Zahed Binge Buker Moddhye Agun Taneem Rahman Angshu Hoichoi 2024 Tikit Vicky Zahed Chorki 2025 AKA Story Hoichoi
Web films Year Title Role OTT Platform 2021 Lohar Tori Story and Screenplay iTheater The Dark Side of Dhaka Screenplay iTheater 2022 Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi Screenplay Chorki Chompa House Story iScreen Shuklopokkho Screenplay Chorki 2023 Opolap Story and Screenplay Deepto Play 2024 Criminals Story and Screenplay Deepto Play
Dramas and short films Title Role Broadcast/Platform Aaj Amar Pala Story Dhruba TV Anti Hero Story and Screenplay RTV Lovers Food Van Screenplay Brikkho Films 10 Minute Story and Screenplay Asian TV Love Scout Story and Screenplay Banglavision Love Trap Story and Screenplay Banglavision Hishebi Bou Screenplay G-Series Ek Bhai Champa Story Bioscope Akash Bhora Tara Story Bioscope Proxy Story and Screenplay Bioscope Lal Katan Nil Dakat Story Chorki Best Friend's Boyfriend Screenplay RTV Office Juddho Story and Screenplay RTV Rashifol Story and Screenplay Gangchil Gerakol Story Chorki Ondho Balok Story and Screenplay Chorki
Bibliography
Novels Incarnation (2014, Adee Prokashon) Bloodstone (2015, Adee Prokashon) Scarlet (2016, Adee Prokashon) Bridge Rokkhok (2017, Adee Prokashon) Mohajatra (2018, Rodela Publications) Mithya Tumi Dosh Pipra (2020, Adee Prokashon) Fatol (2026, Boi Angon Publications)
Novellas Prohelika (2021, Premium Publications) Kuhelika (2024, Premium Publications) Jabonika (2025, Premium Publications)
Story Collections Chompa House (2022, Premium Publications) Omoretter Prottasha Nei (2023, Adee Prokashon) Shotter Moto Bodmash (2024, Grantha Kutir)
Awards and honors Year Awards Category Work Results2026National Film AwardBest Screenplay writer (jointly with Raihan Rafi)Surongo
References