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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday presented the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025 to nine distinguished personalities for their outstanding contributions to Bangla literature.
This year's recipients are Mohan Roy for poetry, Nasima Anis for fiction, Syed Azizul Haque for essays and prose, Hasan Hafiz for children's literature, Ali Ahmad for translation, Mustafa Majid and Israil Khan for research, Farseem Mannan Mohammedy for science and Moidul Hasan for works on the Liberation War.
The Prime Minister handed over the awards to the recipients at the inaugural function of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 on the Bangla Academy premises.
The ceremony, organised by Bangla Academy, began at 2 pm with the national anthem and a recitation of religious scriptures.
A one-minute silence was observed in tribute to the martyrs of the Language Movement, the Liberation War and the July mass uprising.
Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Chairman of Bangla Academy, presided over the inaugural session.
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Mofidur Rahman and Bangla Academy Director General Prof Mohammad Azam, among others, addressed the programme.
Prime Minister's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and his daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman were present at the event.
Cabinet members, members of parliament, notable citizens, writers, publishers and senior civil and military officials also attended the event.
Introduced in 1960, the Bangla Academy Literary Award is presented annually to individuals for their contribution to Bangla literature in various categories.
This year's winners were finalised based on recommendations from the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025 Proposal Committee and approved by the Bangla Academy Literary Award Committee.
On Monday, Prof Mohammad Azam announced the names of the nine winners through a media statement.
The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 carries the theme 'Multidimensional Bangladesh' and will continue until March 15.
Organised by Bangla Academy, the fair remains a central feature of Bangladesh's cultural calendar, marking the spirit of the Language Movement and the wider observance of Amar Ekushey.