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The prestigious award ceremony for the 29th Berger Young Painters’ Art Competition took place on Thursday, at Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden’s Utshob Hall, according to a press release.
This long-standing initiative, organised by Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited since 1996, continues to serve as a significant platform for recognising and nurturing the immense talent of young artists across the nation.
Bangladesh’s art landscape is enriched by numerous national and international competitions, but the Berger Young Painters’ Art Competition has remained a beacon of inspiration for nearly three decades.
This year, the competition attracted an impressive number of submissions, highlighting the incredible creativity of the nation’s young artists. The top honour was claimed by Mallick Sakib Shifat for his outstanding artwork, Ingratitude. The second position was secured by Md. Mezanur Rahman for Composition from Childhood Memory, while Nur Munjerin Rimjhim earned third place for Paradise.Md. Mehedi Hasan, Jolock Saha, and Abu-Al-Naeem secured the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions, respectively, for their artworks Wall of Joy-02, Closeup Study, and What Am I?
At the event, Rupali Chowdhury, Managing Director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, shared her thoughts, stating, “Like every year, this time too, we witnessed some remarkable artworks from young painters that inspire us to think in new ways. On behalf of Berger, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our entire artist community, who have stood by this initiative for 29 long years.”
The Chief Operating Officer and Director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, Md. Mohsin Habib Chowdhury expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their contributions to the successful completion of this year’s event. In his speech, he remarked, “This competition has honoured more than 150 talented artists over the years, leaving a lasting impact on Bangladesh’s art sector. The 29th edition reaffirms art’s role in shaping our cultural heritage, inspiring us through creativity, vibrant brushstrokes, and the celebration of life.”
In his speech, Professor Dr. Azharul Islam Sheikh praised the exceptional platform that Berger has provided for emerging artists. He remarked, “Berger has consistently empowered our artist community, and this year's BYPAC was no exception. We look forward to their continued support.”
The winners were selected by a distinguished panel of esteemed jurors, each a prominent figure in the art world of Bangladesh. The panel included Prof. Dr. Azharul Islam Sheikh, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University; Prof. Abdus Shakoor Shah, Jury Advisor; Prof. Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Ali, Chairman of the Department of Drawing and Painting; Asmita Alam Shammy, Chairperson of the Department of Printmaking; Prof. Faruk Ahmed Molla from the Department of Craft; Reza Al Asad Huda Anupam from the Department of Graphic Design; Pradyut Kumar Das, Assistant Director at Shilpakala Academy; Dr. Abdus Sattar, Honorary Professor at the Department of Oriental Art; and AAM Kawsar Hasan, Professor at the Department of Sculpture.
The laureates were honoured with prize money, crests, and certificates, symbolising recognition and encouragement for their artistic journeys.
Berger is also organising an exhibition at the Jainul Gallery of Charukola, University of Dhaka, Feb 2-8 with the selected 40 artworks from the 2nd round. The exhibition will be free for everyone.