Mahmud Manjur has achieved a rare hat-trick—earning the title of Best Lyricist from three different organizations within the same month.
Though professionally an entertainment journalist, Manjur has been writing lyrics for films, television dramas and independent productions for over two decades. He is also closely involved with the country’s only lyricists' association, Geetikobi Songho Bangladesh, according to a statement.
While he has received recognition before, Manjur describes this triple honor as uniquely special. The hat-trick of awards came from three separate institutions in three separate events—all held in May 2025.
On May 23, he was honored with the Labannya Award 2025 for his outstanding contribution to Bengali songwriting. The award was presented to him by veteran film producer Alimullla Khokon at a vibrant ceremony at the Kochi-Kachar Mela Auditorium in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
On May 26, Manjur received the Best Lyricist award at the Excellence in Success Awards 2025, held at the Sky City Hotel in the capital. This recognition was for the song Alo Alo Korcho from the television drama Bidisha, directed by Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz. The track was composed by Shahriar Marcel and sung by Reshmi Mirza.
He completed the hat-trick on May 31 at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Auditorium of the National Press Club, where he received the Best Lyricist title at the TRAB Iconic Awards 2025, organized by the Television Reporters Association of Bangladesh (TRAB). This time, the recognition was for the song Kemon Acho Tumi, sung by Indian vocalist Rupankar Bagchi and composed by Joy Shahriar.
Reflecting on this rare achievement, Manjur shared:
"Formal recognition used to make me uncomfortable. In the early years, I even declined several awards. But that feeling has changed. These days, I feel if something is earned, it should be accepted with gratitude. Recognition is not just a trophy—it’s motivation to return home and do even better work. That’s what I intend to keep doing."
For over two decades, Al Mahmud Manjur has contributed to the cultural landscape of Bangladesh—both nationally and internationally—as a journalist and lyricist. He has written more than 150 songs for films, TV dramas, and independent releases. He previously received the Best Lyricist award from the Cultural Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (CJFB) and has served as a jury member for Gitikobi Songho Bangladesh.
In journalism, Manjur’s achievements are equally notable. He received the BCRA Award in 2007 as Best Cultural Reporter. Since 2001, he has worked at leading publications including Weekly Purnima, Jugantor, Tarokalok, Bhorer Kagoj, Ajker Kagoj, and Manab Zamin. Since 2015, he has served as the Arts & Entertainment Editor at the prominent online news portal Bangla Tribune.
He has also covered major international film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 and 2024, and in 2025, became the first Bangladeshi entertainment journalist to cover the Sundance Film Festival in the United States.
Beyond journalism and songwriting, Manjur is an active visual show host. His celebrity interview show MamaNama – Out of the Box has been on air for the past three years, offering in-depth conversations with cultural icons.
