Sayed Zaman Shawon, Shohel Mondol to lead sitcom ‘Cafe Society’

Filmmaker Masud Al Jaber is set to bring a new sitcom-style series titled "Cafe Society" to Bangladeshi screens—an ambitious attempt to explore the rarely ventured genre of situational comedy in the country's television landscape. The series was officially announced on Thursday night at a press event held at a restaurant in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

A sitcom—short for situational comedy—typically revolves around a fixed group of characters interacting in a single setting such as a home, office or café, where humour grows out of daily life. "Cafe Society" will follow that classic structure, centring on four friends who spend their time at a café that doubles as a microcosm of society itself.

"The café becomes a meeting point for all kinds of people," said actor Sayed Zaman Shawon, one of the series' leads. "Some are regulars, some appear for the first time. Dreams, struggles, and laughter all mix together in that space."

Another main character will be played by Shohel Mondol, who admitted that comedy is new territory for him. "I rarely get to do comedy," he said. "And a sitcom is a completely new concept for us. Both the story and my character felt refreshing. I hope we can make something truly fun."

Produced by Raju Mahajan, the series marks the Bangladeshi debut of Norah Global Media, a US-based production company. The first season of "Cafe Society" will feature 15 episodes, each around 18 minutes long. Filming has already begun in Dhaka.

"We want 'Cafe Society' to reflect our times," said Mahajan. "When someone watches it years later, they should get a sense of how people lived, talked, ate and dreamt in 2025. It'll explore society, politics, and culture—but always with humour."

Director Masud Al Jaber, known for television dramas such as "Raja Mastan", "Sparshe Acho Tumi", and the serial "Farmgate", said this project takes him into new territory. "This time, we're stepping outside the boundaries of conventional drama," he said. "Sitcoms allow us to tell everyday stories simply and directly—stories where audiences can recognise themselves."

With a mix of satire, social observation, and lighthearted banter, "Cafe Society" aims to carve a new space in Bangladesh's entertainment scene—one where laughter might just hold up a mirror to life.

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