Poet Helal Hafiz has been nominated for this year’s Bangla Academy Literary Award. Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan announced 10 more nominees at a press conference on Thursday.
Helal Hafiz, 64, will receive the prestigious award for his contribution to poetry. His first collection of poems ‘Je Jwale Agun Jwale’ published in 1986 earned him huge acclaim.Twelve editions of it have been published so far. But the poet showed no great interest in having a new book published. His second collection, ‘Kobita 71’, was, therefore, published 26 years later in 2012.
Born in Netrokona, Helal Hafiz studied at the Dhaka University. He also worked as a journalist. Other recipients of the award include Purabi Basu in folk literature and Mofidul Haque for essays.
Jamil Chowdhury and Prabhangshu Tripura won the award in the research category, Kaiser Huq in translation, and Harun Habib for his writings related to the Liberation War.
Mahfuzur Rahman will be awarded in travelogue and autobiography category, and Shahidul Islam in science, technology and environment segment.
Kaizer Chowdhury and Aslam Sani have been selected for this year’s children’s literature award.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the awards at the inaugural ceremony of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Saturday, Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman said.
Nobody has been selected in the playwright category like last year.
In past years, the awards used to be announced in the middle of the Book Fair and award function held at end of it.
Shamsuzzaman said three issues had prompted the change.
“Firstly, the awards will acquire greater prestige if they are handed over by the Prime Minister. Secondly, the works of the awardees will be discussed during the month-long fair, and, finally, readers will be able to evaluate whether the nomination is right.”-bdnews24.com
