# Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Director

National Film Award for Best Director (Bengali: জাতীয় চলচ্চিত্র পুরস্কার) is the highest award for film directors in Bangladesh, presented annually at Bangladesh National Film Awards ceremony by the Ministry of Information. It is given in honour of a film director who has exhibited excellence directing in Bangladeshi cinema. Since 1975, the award is given annually except in 1981, 1998 and 2003. It is presented by the President of Bangladesh at a ceremony held in Dhaka.
The 1st National Film Awards ceremony was held in 1976, and Narayan Ghosh Mita was the first awardee of this category for directing the film Lathial (1975).
Since its inception, a total of 43 awards have been given to 32 directors. A. J. Mintu has received the most awards in this category with four, following Sheikh Niamat Ali three times. 2017 best director, producer & Screenplay writer Reazul Rezu. As of the 2023 ceremony, Rubaiyat Hossain is the recent winner in this category for the film Shimu (2022).

## List of winners
### Key

Table key :
| indicates a joint award for that year | ‡ Indicates the winner of Best Film |
List of award recipients, showing the year and film(s) :
| Year | Recipient(s) | Work(s) |
| 1975 (1st) | Narayan Ghosh Mita | Lathial † |
| 1976 (2nd) | Harunur Rashid | Megher Onek Rong † |
| 1977 (3rd) | Subhash Dutta | Bosundhora † |
| 1978 (4th) | Amjad Hossain | Golapi Ekhon Traine † |
| 1979 (5th) † | Sheikh Niamat Ali | Surjo Dighol Bari † |
| 1979 (5th) † | Masihuddin Shaker | Surjo Dighol Bari † |
| 1980 (6th) | Abdullah al Mamun | Ekhoni Somoy |
| 1981 | No Award | No Award |
| 1982 (7th) | Mohiuddin Ahmad | Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo |
| 1983 (8th) | Kamal Ahmed | Lalu Bhulu |
| 1984 (9th) | Amjad Hossain | Bhat De † |
| 1985 (10th) | Sheikh Niamat Ali | Dahan |
| 1986 (11th) | Chashi Nazrul Islam | Shuvoda † |
| 1987 (12th) | A. J. Mintu | Lalu Mastan |
| 1988 (13th) | Abdullah al Mamun | Dui Jibon † |
| 1989 (14th) | A. J. Mintu | Satya Mithya |
| 1990 (15th) | Kamal Ahmed | Goriber Bou † |
| 1991 (16th) | A. J. Mintu | Pita Mata Santan |
| 1992 (17th) | Motin Rahman | Andha Biswas |
| 1993 (18th) | A. J. Mintu | Banglar Bodhu |
| 1994 (19th) | Kazi Hayat | Desh Premik † |
| 1995 (20th) | Sheikh Niamat Ali | Anya Jibon † |
| 1996 (21st) | Akhtaruzzaman | Poka Makorer Ghor Bosoti † |
| 1997 (22nd) | Chashi Nazrul Islam | Hangor Nodi Grenade |
| 1998 (23nd) | Not Given | Not Given |
| 1999 (24th) | Tanvir Mokammel | Chitra Nodir Pare † |
| 2000 (25th) | Abu Sayeed | Kittonkhola † |
| 2001 (26th) | Tanvir Mokammel | Lalsalu † |
| 2002 (27th) | Kazi Hayat | Itihas |
| 2003 (28th) | Not Given | Not Given |
| 2004 (29th) | Tauquir Ahmed | Joyjatra † |
| 2005 (30th) | Kohinur Akter Suchanda | Hajar Bachhor Dhore † |
| 2006 (31st) | Kazi Morshed | Ghani |
| 2007 (32nd) | Enamul Karim Nirjhar | Aha! |
| 2008 (33rd) | Murad Parvez | Chandragrohon † |
| 2009 (34th) | Syed Wahiduzzaman Diamond | Gangajatra |
| 2010 (35th) | Khalid Mahmud Mithu | Gohine Shobdo † |
| 2011 (36th) | Nasiruddin Yousuff | Guerrilla † |
| 2012 (37th) | Humayun Ahmed | Ghetuputra Komola |
| 2013 (38th) | Gazi Rakayet | Mrittika Maya † |
| 2014 (39th) | Zahidur Rahman Anjan | Meghmallar |
| 2015 (40th) † | Reazul Mawla Rezu | Bapjaner Bioscope † |
| 2015 (40th) † | Morshedul Islam | Anil Bagchir Ekdin † |
| 2016 (41st) | Amitabh Reza Chowdhury | Aynabaji |
| 2017 (42nd) | Badrul Anam Saud | Gohin Baluchor |
| 2018 (43rd) | Mostafizur Rahman Manik | Jannat |
| 2019 (44th) | Taneem Rahman Angshu | No Dorai |
| 2020 (45th) | Gazi Rakayet | Gor (The Grave) |
| 2021 (46th) | Rezwan Shahriar Sumit | Nonajoler Kabbo |
| 2022 (47th) | Rubaiyat Hossain | Shimu |

## Multiple wins

The following individuals have won multiple Best Director awards:
| Wins | Director |
| 4 | A. J. Mintu |
| 3 | Sheikh Niamat Ali |
| 2 | Abdullah al Mamun |
| 2 | Amjad Hossain |
| 2 | Chashi Nazrul Islam |
| 2 | Kamal Ahmed |
| 2 | Kazi Hayat |
| 2 | Tanvir Mokammel |
| 2 | Gazi Rakayet |

## Diversity of nominees/winners
### Female nominees/winners

Shuchanda is a solo winner of this category in the 30th Bangladesh National Film Awards for the film Hajar Bachhor Dhore.