Mohon Raihan yet to receive award despite March 2 schedule

Poet Mohon Raihan, president of the National Poetry Council, has yet to receive the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025, despite a second schedule being set for the ceremony. The award was supposed to be handed to him on Monday, March 2.

Speaking to the media, Mohon Raihan said he has not yet been formally informed about the matter.

At a press conference the previous day, he mentioned three conditions. He said he would accept the award from the Prime Minister if those conditions are met, but he would not personally take the prize money.

This year, a total of nine individuals, including Mohon Raihan, were nominated for the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025. While the others formally received their awards last Thursday, the presentation in his case was postponed.

Later, amid criticism, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs said in a statement last Saturday that the decision to give him the award had been made and it would be presented on March 2. However, no immediate statement was available from the minister or state minister regarding why the award was not given on the scheduled day.

Meanwhile, Mohon Raihan had said the prize money would be spent for the welfare of a financially struggling poet, writer, or cultural worker. He also called for reforms to the award policy, saying that a transparent, non-partisan, and expert-driven process would help avoid such controversies in the future.