Bangla Academy
10 promising, successful women receive Anannya Award 2021
Leading women's magazine Anannya has conferred the "Ananya Top Ten Award 2021' on Saturday (November 19, 2022), to recognise the noble work and achievements of 10 successful and distinguished women.
The award ceremony was held at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium of the Bangla Academy in the capital on Saturday at 4 pm.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury joined the event as the chief guest. Anannya and The Daily Ittefaq Editor Tasmima Hossain presided over the ceremony.
Read more: Icons of women's empowerment recognised in Anannya's Top 10 Awards 2019
This year, Nazneen Ahmed (economist), Bitpi Das Chowdhury (corporate personality), Tropa Majumdar (actor, director), Shahinur Akhter (indomitable courage), Salma Sultana (scientist), Rudmeela Nawsheen (tech entrepreneur), Shahriar Farzana (photographer), Santana Rani Roy (martial art instructor), Ichhmat Ara (women entrepreneur) and Jaya Chakma (first woman FIFA referee from Bangladesh) received the prestigious award, a flagship venture of the popular fortnightly magazine.
"Women empowerment in Bangladesh has reached a new height because of the relentless hardships of our women, and today we are celebrating 10 of those successful women in the society," Shirin Sharmin said.
Tasmima said: "Bangladesh is only 51 years old, while our Anannya's age is just 35. Within this short period, Anannya has honoured 270 successful and influential women. Many of the honourees from Ananya are now continuing their contribution to many important sectors of the country. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury herself received this award in 2013."
Read more: Nadira Majumdar conferred with Anannya Literature Award 1426
This year, the Anannya Lifetime Achievement award was conferred to Sarat Mala Chakma, an eminent indigenous craft artist from Rangamati's Tabalchari Master Colony. The 90-year-old artist has received many awards at home and abroad.
Longest-running Amar Ekushey Book Fair ends; Tk52.50 crore books sold
The longest-running Amar Ekushey Book Fair concluded in the capital Thursday.
The 31-day fair is estimated to have sold books worth Tk52.50 crore.
Traditionally held throughout February every year at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan, the fair's 2022 edition started on February 15 after a pandemic-induced delay.
Jalal Ahmed, director of the Bangla Academy and member secretary of the Ekushey Book Fair Committee, presented the sales report of this year at the closing ceremony.
PM inaugurates Ekushey Book Fair-2022
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday inaugurated the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2022, the annual event of booklovers and publishers, in the capital.
She opened the country’s biggest book fair, joining its inaugural ceremony at the Bangla Academy virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban in the afternoon.
This year’s fair is being held on the Bangla Academy premises and its adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on February 15-28. But its duration might be extended if the Covid situation improves.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the duration of the fair should be extended to one month. “As we started the fair behind the schedule this time, February 15, I think we can continue it for a full month,” she said.
Read: Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2022 begins Tuesday
Besides, there is also a demand from publishers to extend its duration, Hasina said.
Noting that she alone should not take the decision, she directed the authorities concerned to consider how much they can do in this regard.
At the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister distributed the Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar-2021 (Bangla Academy Literary Award 2021) among its recipients.
On her behalf, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid handed over the award to the 15 recipients under 11 categories. Each awardee received a cheque for Tk 3 lakh, a crest and a certificate.
Asad Mannan and Bimal Guha received the award for poetry, while Jharna Rahman and Bishwajit Choudhury for novels, Hossenuddin Hossen for essays/research and Aminur Rahman and Rafique-um-Munir Chowdhury for translation.
The other awardees are Shadhona Ahmed for drama, Rafiqur Rashid for juvenile literature, Panna Kaiser for her work on the Liberation War, Professor Harun-or-Rashid for research on Bangabandhu, Shuvagoto Chowdhury for science/science fiction/environmental science, Sufia Khatun and Haider Akbar Khan Rono for biography and travelogue and Aminur Rahman Sultan for folklore.
The Bangla Academy Sahitya Puroshkar is given in recognition of creativity and talents in advancement and overall contributions to the field of Bengali language and literature.
Bangla Academy on war footing ahead of Amar Ekushey Book Fair
Bangla Academy has started its all-out preparations to hold the month-long Amar Ekushey Book Fair, one of the most sought-after events for the booklovers and writers, at it will kick off on February 1.
“Bangla Academy has started its preparations for the book fair and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate it,” member secretary of the Book Fair Committee Dr Jalal Uddin told UNB.
"This year's fair will be a special one, we’re decorating the fairground considering the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence,” he said.
Also read: Ekushey Book Fair: 3 publishing houses awarded for using bKash
Indeed, the main theme of the upcoming book fair is Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh, Dr Jalal added.
National Professor Rafiqul Islam dies at 87
National Professor Rafiqul Islam, also the Chairman of Bangla Academy, passed away at Evercare Hospital in the capital on Tuesday. He was 87.
“The eminent professor breathed his last at 2:30 pm,” a source close to his family told UNB.
The body of Dr Rafiqul Islam will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday at 2 pm for people to pay their last respects.
He will be buried at Azimpur Graveyard after Asr prayers on Wednesday, according to his family sources.
Prof Rafiqul Islam, also the Director of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)’s Centre for Bangla Studies, was put on life support at the Evercare Hospital on November 26.
Prof Rafiqul, also a teacher of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was admitted to the hospital a week prior to that, and got shifted to the High Dependency Unit of the hospital after his condition worsened.
On October 7, he was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) with abdominal pain. After tests, doctors confirmed that water had accumulated in his lungs, which was later extracted.
According to the family, Rafiqul Islam wanted to be treated in the country. He did not even want to come to Evercare Hospital and was willing to continue receiving treatment at the BSMMU.
Read: National Professor Rafiqul Islam on life support, says family
Born on January 1, 1934 at Kolakanda village, Matlab upazila in Chandpur district to Dr Md Zulfiker Ali and Jannatunesa, Prof Rafiqul Islam completed his MA in Bangla from Dhaka University in 1956. He was an active participant in the 1952 Language Movement.
Later, he completed his MA in Linguistics from Cornel University, USA in 1960. He obtained his PhD from Dhaka University in 1976. He started his glorious career in academia at Dhaka University in 1957 and taught Bangla and linguistics there till 1958.
Inducted as a National Professor in 2018, Dr Rafiqul Islam later became head of the Bangla department at Dhaka University. Later, he became the Vice-Chancellor (2007-2011) of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).
One of the most respected Nazrul researchers, Rafiqul Islam was the first Nazrul Professor at the Bangla department of Dhaka University and the first director of the Nazrul Research Centre. He has penned about 30 books, including the first book on martyred intellectuals and the first book on the centenary history of Dhaka University.
For his excellence in the field of academia and culture, Professor Dr Rafiqul Islam has received Independence Award (2012), Ekushey Padak (2001), Bangla Academy Literary Award (1994) and International Mother Language Award.
Read:KM Khalid visits ailing Dr Rafiqul Islam at BSMMU
President, PM mourn
President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, among others, expressed profound shock at his death.
In a condolence message, the President said the death of the eminent academician was an irreparable loss to the country's education and culture.
Hamid recalled Prof Rafiqul's role as the chairman of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birth Centenary Celebration National Implementation Committee.
The President said he played an important role in spreading Bangabandhu's principles and ideals at national and international levels.
The country and the nation will forever remember his contribution to the promotion of the spirit of independence and liberation war in Bangladesh, he said.
Expressing deep shock at her teacher’s death, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said National Professor Rafiqul Islamwill ever remain alive as a shining star in Bangla literature and research.
In a condolence message, Hasina said the history Dr Rafiqul Islam had written as an eyewitness following his active participation in the Language Movement and the great Liberation War are invaluable resources for Bengali literature.
Hasina said he had an outstanding contribution to Nazrul research. “The literary work of this eminent writer and researcher will always inspire the Bengali nation with the spirit of Liberation War and patriotism. He will remain alive as a shining star in Bengali literature and research,” said the Prime Minister.
“With his death, I’ve lost my teacher, mentor and guardian. My beloved teacher’s encouragement and motivation on various nationally important issues gave me courage and strength to move forward,” she said.
The Prime Minister prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to bereaved family members.
Notable works of Bengali literature to be translated to Korean: KM Khalid
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid on Monday said significant books in Bengali are being considered to be translated into Korean language and the translation department of the Bangla Academy will take necessary steps in this regard.
The State Minister shared this information while attending the award giving ceremony of the "Ujan Book Review Contest 2021" for two translated books 'Korean Poetry' and 'Korean Story' as the chief guest.
The two books were published by the publishing house Ujan, in collaboration with the Literature Translation Institute, Korea at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbagh.
Read: Poet Nurul Huda appointed Bangla Academy director general
At the event, KM Khalid said that South Korea is a true friend of Bangladesh. After independence, South Korea extended its helping hand in rebuilding the country, and 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and South Korea.
He also added that South Korea is the third largest development partner of Bangladesh, with about 75,000 jobs filled by Bangladeshis at the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) in Chittagong, and about 20,000 Bangladeshis working in South Korea.
Moreover, about one and a half thousand Bangladeshi students, teachers and researchers are pursuing higher studies at various levels in Korea’s world class education system. “Overall, South Korea is one of the leading development partners of Bangladesh,’ Khalid said at the event.
Mentioning that Bangla Academy is an organization dedicated to the development of the Bengali language and culture established in the context of the Language Movement of 1952, Khalid expressed his hope that the academy would be able to fulfill its major objective.
Read: 10 picked for Bangla Academy Literary Award
Chaired by Director General of Bangla Academy Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, the event was also joined by Lee Jang-Keun, Ambassador of South Korea to Bangladesh, as the special guest speaker.
Chanda Mahbub, translator of 'Korean Poetry', Saraishwarya Muhammad, translator of 'Korean Story', poet Sohail Hasan Ghalib and translator Sheuli Fateha also spoke on the occasion.
At the ceremony, KM Khalid also handed over the prizes to the three winners of the book review contest and ten selected participants.
Cultural organizations observe National Mourning Day
Different cultural organizations in the country observed the National Mourning Day, marking the 46th death anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by holding a variety of virtual and hybrid-format events on Sunday.
Organizations including Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Abritti Somonnoy Parishad, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Somonnoy Parishad and others streamed cultural programmes and discussions on their official Facebook pages.
Read: Bangabandhu’s life, sacrifice being showcased in NYC's Times Square
Bangla Academy arranged a webinar featuring State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, National Professor and the academy’s current Chairman Rafiqul Islam, Liberation War Museum trustee Mofidul Hoque, recitation artist and Sammilita Snagskritik Jote’s General Secretary Hasan Arif, singer Timir Nandi, recitation artist Rupa Chakrabarty, and Ministry of Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur.
Poet Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla , delivered his welcome speech at the webinar, which was hosted by Bangla Academy Secretary AHM Lokman.
A handful of online events were organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), marking the National Mourning Day on its Facebook page. As part of its events, BSA organized a virtual programme on Sunday night which was joined by State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid as the chief guest.
National professor and Bangla Academy Chairman Rafiqul Islam, Cultural Affairs Ministry secretary Md Abul Mansur, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy secretary Asaduzzaman, Bangla Academy Director General poet Nurul Huda, and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee assistant general secretary Dr Nuzhat Choudhury were present as discussants at the event, which was presided over by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy director general Liaquat Ali Lucky.
Thespian and former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor poet Dr Muhammad Samad, poet Nirmalendu Goon, Indian-Bengali singer Mitali Mukherjee, poet Kazi Rozi, singer-composer Naquib Khan, poet Asim Saha, singer Timir Nandi, poet Tarik Sujat, and others performed in the online cultural programme followed by the discussion, moderated by media personality Dr Abdun Noor Tushar.
Read:Inspired to protect the values Bangabandhu stood for: India
BSA has also launched a six-day virtual drama show on Bangabandhu on its Facebook page and YouTube channel. Performed and recorded by District Shilpakala Academy in Chittagong, Kushtia, Thakurgaon, Manikganj, Moulvibazar and Barguna, the opening day drama titled ‘Rajnityr Kobi’ was presented by Chittagong District Shilpakala Academy at 8 pm on Sunday.
Liberation War Museum uploaded a tribute video titled “August-er Bishonno Bikel” on its Facebook page, as a homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Directed by trustee of the Liberation War Museum Mofidul Hoque, the video features a recitation by former Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor reading from the late Syed Najmuddin Hashim’s writing, and Bhaskar Bandyopadhyay reciting Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “Pother Sheshe” which was synchronised with dancer Sudeshna Swayamprabha’s dance recital, choreographed by Sharmila Bandhopadhyay.
Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Somonnoy Parishad organised a webinar, streamed live on its Facebook group featuring writer-columnist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, thespian and International Theatre Institute (ITI) President Ramendu Majumdar, and Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Samannay Parishad President Tapan Mahmud. The speakers spoke on the life and works of Mujib at the programme, which was anchored by the General Secretary of the organisation Biswajit Roy.
Bangladesh National Museum organized a hybrid discussion ceremony at its Sufia Kamal Auditorium. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, President of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Ministry of Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur virtually joined and spoke at the event, among others.
Read:Nation observing Bangabandhu’s anniversary of martyrdom in a somber mood
The discussion was chaired by Khandaker Mostafizur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh National Museum.
Several other cultural organizations, educational institutions, television channels and radio stations also arranged multiple discussions and cultural programmes, commemorating the life and works of the Father of the Nation and his family members.
Poet Nurul Huda appointed Bangla Academy director general
The government has appointed poet Mohammad Nurul Huda as the new Director General (DG) of Bangla Academy, according to a ministry of public administration circular on Monday.
Nurul Huda will serve in the position for a period of 3 years from the date of joining on condition he resigns from other organizations.
The post fell vacant after its DG Habibullah Sirajee died of cancer on May 24. Since then AHM Lokman, secretary of the academy, has been in charge as acting director general.
READ: Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Sirajee passes away
Nurul Huda earlier served as the executive director of Nazrul Institute.
He is currently the member secretary of the Nazrul Birth Centenary Celebration Committee at the national level.
The DG post at Bangla Academy fell vacant after its DG Habibullah Sirajee died of cancer on May 24.
READ: Bangla Academy Chairman Shamsuzzaman Khan loses battle with Covid-19
Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Sirajee passes away
Bangla Academy Director General Habibullah Sirajee passed away on Monday at a city hospital in the capital. He was 72.
The Ekushey Padak-winning poet was on life support at the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital since April 27 due to stomach-related complications.
He passed away at 11pm, Bangla Academy Secretary and acting Director General AHM Lokman told UNB.
Sirajee was hospitalised on April 25 and shifted to the ICU due to severe complication in his intestine and the digestive system. A medical board was formed for his treatment. The poet had undergone an operation on April 27.
He had other health complications including peptic ulcer.
Lokman said the body of Sirajee will be taken from his Dhanmondi residence to the Bangla Academy at 10am for everyone to pay their last respect. His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Bangla Academy. He will be laid to rest at Azimpur graveyard after his second namaz-e-janaza there.
Read: Bangla Academy DG Sirajee on life support
Poet Sirajee took charge as the director general of Bangla Academy on December 20, 2018.
Born on December 31, 1948 in Faridpur, the poet studied at the country’s apex engineering university BUET.
One of the founders and former president of Jatiya Kabita Parishad (National Poetry Council), Sirajee was conferred with the Ekushey Padak in 2016 and Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1991 for his contribution to poetry.
Journalist Ahmed Momtaz no more
Journalist, writer and researcher Ahmed Momtaz breathed his last Sunday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The 61-year-old was an assistant director (press) of Bangla Academy, a member of Chittagong Journalists' Forum Dhaka (CJFD), and the former press and publication secretary of Chittagong Samiti Dhaka.
Also read: Senior journalist Hassan Shahriar passes away
Momtaz was laid to rest at his family graveyard in Chattogram's Mirsarai.
CJFD expressed deep shock at his demise and expressed profound sympathy to his family.
Also read: Journalist Kayum Khan Milon passes away