Hayat won the Bangladesh National Film Award eight times - Best Story for "Dayi Ke" (1987), Best Dialogue and Best Screenplay for Traas (1992), Best Story for "Chandabaz" (1993), Best Director and Best Screenplay for "Desh Premik" (1994), Best Cinematography for "Ammajan" (1999), and Best Director for "Itihas" (2002).