Bangla Academy releases revised list of Literary Award winners

Bangla Academy has released a revised list of its literary award winners following a review meeting of its Executive Council.

An official statement signed by Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam and issued on Wednesday (January 29) announced that the previously suspended list of awardees had been finalized with modifications.

The revised list includes seven recipients: Masud Khan in the poetry category, Shuvashis Sinha in drama and dramatic literature, Salimullah Khan in essay/prose, GH Habib in translation, Muhammad Shahjahan Mian in research, Rezaur Rahman in science, and Syed Jamil Ahmed in folklore.

Three names from the previously announced list were removed: Selim Morshed in fiction, Faruk Nawaz in children’s literature, and Muhammad Hannan in the War of Independence. As per Bangla Academy’s policy, no replacements were made for these categories.

According to the fourth chapter, ninth section of the ‘Bangla Academy Literary Award Policy,’ the Executive Council cannot consider new nominees once a list has been finalized. Additionally, the tenth section grants the council the authority to disregard any prior recommendations.

Earlier, on Saturday (January 25), Bangla Academy suspended the 2024 Literary Award winners' list following public controversy.