Nine individuals and one institution have been chosen for this year's Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award), Bangladesh's highest civilian award, for their contributions to the country. Freedom fighter Colonel Shamsul Alam (retired), Lieutenant AG Mohammad Khurshid (posthumous), martyred Khwaja Nizamuddin Bhuiyan, and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya have been named for their contributions to Bangladesh's independence and the Liberation War. Bangla Academy winner Begum Nadira Jahan (Surma Zahid) and ICDDRB Acting Senior Director Dr Firdausi Qadri will receive the award for their contributions to research and training, the Cabinet Division said in a notification Thursday. Late Mohammad Moinuddin Ahmed (Selim Al Deen) will get the award for his contribution to literature. Pabitra Mohan Dey and ASM Raqibul Hasan will receive the honour for their contribution to culture and sports, respectively. Read more: Eleven chosen for Independence Award 2022 The Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence has been picked for the award in the public service category. Bangladesh has been honouring individuals and institutions with the award every year ahead of Independence Day on March 26 since 1977.

Banned militant organization Ansar Al Islam have purportedly sent a letter to Bangla Academy Director General Md Nurul Huda threatening to bomb the Amar Ekushey book fair 2023. In this regard Bangla Academy DG Nurul Huda filed a general diary filed in Shahbag police station on behalf of Bangla Academy. Read more: Anti-Terrorism Unit arrest death-row convict in Madaripur The letter was sent to the office of Bangla Academy by post around 11:30 am on Thursday. Later Bangla Academy Security Officer Md. GD Jahangir Alam took it to the police station. When asked about the matter, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbag Police Station Noor Mohammad said, "The banned militant organization Ansar Al Islam has written to the Director General of Bangla Academy saying that anti-social activities are going on in two hotels of the capital. If those activities are not stopped, they said they will bomb Amar Ekushey Book Fair." "Bangla Academy authorities have made a GD in this incident. We have started a preliminary investigation," he added. Read more: Tracing the Roots of Ekushey Boi Mela Director General of Bangla Academy Nurul Huda said he learned of the incident, but he was outside the office at the time. "We have filed a GD at Shahbag police station," he added. KM Mujahidul Islam, Member-Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair Management Committee, said,"The letter was sent by post at around 11:30 am. We have forwarded the letter to the police station They will look into it."  

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today stayed the High Court order that had asked the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Boi Mela on condition. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after hearing a petition. With the latest order, Adarsha Prokashoni will not be allowed to participate in the book fair. Also read: HC asks Bangla Academy for stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni on condition Advocate Anik R Haque stood for Adarsha Prokashoni while Senior Advocate Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented Bangla Academy. On February 8, the HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed an order asking the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Book Fair on condition. Counsel Anik said the court asked the Bangla Academy to give the stall allotment on condition that it cannot keep three books —‘Bangalir Mediocrity’r Sandhane’ by Faham Abdus Salam, ‘Unnoyan Bibhram’ by Zia Hasan and ‘Oprotiroddho Unnoyane Obhaboniyo Kothamala’ by Foyez Ahmad Taiyeb. Read More: Tracing the Roots of Ekushey Boi Mela Later, Bangla Academy filed a petition challenging the HC order. On Monday (February 13), the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim set February 15 for hearing on the petition. Advocate Anik said that though the books were not blacklisted or banned, the participation of the publishing house was restricted involving the books. Read More: Boi Mela, Pahela Falgun & Valentine's: Visitors around DU campus spoilt for choice   The writers of 600 books, which were published from the Adarsha Prokashoni, will be deprived of taking part in the month-long fair, he said. Owner Mahabubur Rahman filed a petition with the HC seeking intervention after authorities disclosed the names of the participating publishing houses except Adarsha Prokashoni on January 12.

The High Court on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Book Fair on condition. An HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the publishing house owner Md Mahabubur Rahman, said the plaintiff’s counsel barrister Anik R Hoque. Assistant Attorney General Selim Azad represented the state. Counsel Anik said the court asked the Bangla Academy to give the stall allotment on condition that it cannot keep three books—‘Bangalir Mediacretir Sandhane’ by Faham Abdus Salam, ‘Unnoyan Bibhram’ by Zia Hasan and ‘Oprotiroddo Unnoyane Obhabniyo Kothamala’ by Foyez Ahmad Taiyeb. He said that though the books were not blacklisted or banned, the participation of the publishing house was restricted involving the books. Read More: Barred from Ekushey Book Fair 2023, Adarsha goes to High Court The writers of 600 books, which were published from the Adarsha Prokashoni, will be deprived of taking part in the month-long fair, he said. Owner Mahabubur Rahman filed a petition to the HC seeking intervention after authorities disclosed the names of the participating publishing houses except the Adarsha Prokashoni on January 12.  

Md Mahabubur Rahman, the publisher of Adarsha Prakashani, Thursday challenged the Bangla Academy's decision to deny him a stall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2023 in a writ filed at the High Court. Four people, including the director general of the Bangla Academy, were made defendants in the writ, the petitioner's lawyer Aneek R Haque said. "The hearing on the writ petition is likely to be held next week." The petitioner sought the court's instruction to allot stalls to the publishing house as soon as possible. The Bangla Academy, the governing body of the fair, published the allocation list on January 12, where Adarsha's name was dropped. Later, Adarsha learned about objections towards the book "Bangaleer Mediocrityr Sondhane" by Faham Abdus Salam, son-in-law of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. According to the writ, the reason the authorities did not allow the publishing house from attending the fair was a book that is not banned or blacklisted. "So, the decision is invalid as per the Bangla Academy Act 2013. Also, it is against freedom of speech." With virus-era norms like social distancing now discarded, this year's fair returned to its usual start date of February 1, and barring some unforeseen pandemic-level event, will last the entire month at the Bangla Academy's sprawling premises, along with the adjacent Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.  Nine hundred and one units were allocated to 601 organisations for this year's fair, compared to 776 units to 534 organisations last year. Read more: PM opens Ekushey Book Fair 2023 in person for first time in 3 years

Bangla Academy has announced the names of 15 individuals to be conferred with the 'Bangla Academy Literary Award-2022' for their contribution in different fields of Bangla literature. The announcement was made through a press release signed by Bangla Academy deputy director Mohammad Akbar Hossain on Wednesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to hand over the awards officially during the inauguration of Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2023. Read more: BSA, Bangla Academy celebrate PM Hasina's 76th birthday Bangla Academy Literary Award is given in different categories. The awardees for Bangla Academy Literary Award 2022 are: Faruk Mahmud and Tarik Sujat in poetry, Taposh Majumder and Parvez Hossain in fiction writing, Masuduzzaman in essay and research, Alam Khorshed in translation, Milon Kanti Dey and Farid Ahmed Dulal in drama, Dhruba Esh in children's literature, Muhammad Shamsul Haque in Liberation War research, Subhash Singha Roy in research on Bangabandhu, Mokarom Hossain in science, fiction and environmental science, Ikhtiar Chowdhury in memoirs, travelogue and autobiography and Abdul Khaleq and Muhammad Abdul Jalil in folklore. With the approval of the Bangla Academy Executive Council, 'Bangla Academy Literary Award 2022' was announced, the press release said.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr AK Abdul Momen recalled late Atful Hye Shibly, a Rajshahi University teacher and also historian, terming as a benevolent person. He was addressing a discussion, doa mahfil and unveil of a commemorative book on Shibly at Poet Shamsur Rahman auditorium in Bangla Academy on Friday morning, as the chief guest. The Rajshahi University History Alumni Association organised the programme in the city with association’s President Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman in the chair. Minister Momen said Atful, husband of his younger sister, used to be happiest once he could help someone. Addressing the good qualities of the former RU teacher, he said Prof Atful could intimate people and get close to them easily. Read more: Prominent educationist Prof Atful Hye Shibly passes away Momen said loss of educationist Atful is irreparable for their family and the country as he was a complete person with a curious mind. Prof Dr Muntasir Mamun, national professor Dr Shahla Khatun, Atful’s wife Nazir Shibly and the alumni association’s General Secretary Mahmuda Khatun among others addressed the programme by recalling memories of the late historian. Prof Atful died in a hospital in the capital on December 29, 2020 while undergoing treatment there after he tested positive for Covid-19.

The tenth edition of the Dhaka Lit Fest will be held at the Bangla Academy from January 5 to 8. The fest will host many award-winning authors and internationally acclaimed speakers, including Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah; winners of the Booker and International Booker, Neustadt International, PEN/Pinter, Prix Médicis, Academy Award, Windham-Campbell Prize, Albert Medal, Waterstones Children's Book Prize, and Aga Khan Award. Read more: 32 bands to take the stage of Dhaka Rock Fest 3.0 on December 27,28 This year's line-up also features Nuruddin Farah, Amitav Ghosh, Hanif Kureishi, Pankaj Mishra, Tilda Swinton, Jon Lee Anderson, Onjali Rauf, Sarah Churchwell, Geetanjali Shree, Daisy Rockwell, Esther Freud, Alexandra Pringle, Dame Sarah Gilbert, Marina Mahathir, Joy Goswami, Anisul Hoque, Mashrur Arefin, Kamal Chowdhury, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Marina Tabassum, Syed Manzoorul Islam, Imdadul Haq Milan, Kaiser Haq, Shaheen Akhtar, Amitabh Reza, Azmeri Haque Badhon and more. Over 500 speakers, performers, and thinkers representing five continents will participate in the four-day event with over 175 sessions. Along with a diverse mix of conversations and dialogues, and sessions on science and technology, there will also be activities for children, and young adults, film screenings, and theatrical, music, and cultural performances at the fest. Read more: Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival 2022 draws to a close Dhaka Tribune and Bangla Tribune are the event's title sponsors, City Bank platinum sponsor, and British Council is the strategic partner. Online registration for the fest is now open. Tickets are available for Tk200 and Tk500, and entry will be free for children under 12.

Leading women's magazine Anannya has conferred the "Ananya Top Ten Award 2021' on Saturday (November 19, 2022), to recognise the noble work and achievements of 10 successful and distinguished women. The award ceremony was held at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad (AKSB) auditorium of the Bangla Academy in the capital on Saturday at 4 pm. Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury joined the event as the chief guest. Anannya and The Daily Ittefaq Editor Tasmima Hossain presided over the ceremony. Read more: Icons of women's empowerment recognised in Anannya's Top 10 Awards 2019 This year, Nazneen Ahmed (economist), Bitpi Das Chowdhury (corporate personality), Tropa Majumdar (actor, director), Shahinur Akhter (indomitable courage), Salma Sultana (scientist), Rudmeela Nawsheen (tech entrepreneur), Shahriar Farzana (photographer), Santana Rani Roy (martial art instructor), Ichhmat Ara (women entrepreneur) and Jaya Chakma (first woman FIFA referee from Bangladesh) received the prestigious award, a flagship venture of the popular fortnightly magazine. "Women empowerment in Bangladesh has reached a new height because of the relentless hardships of our women, and today we are celebrating 10 of those successful women in the society," Shirin Sharmin said. Tasmima said: "Bangladesh is only 51 years old, while our Anannya's age is just 35. Within this short period, Anannya has honoured 270 successful and influential women. Many of the honourees from Ananya are now continuing their contribution to many important sectors of the country. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury herself received this award in 2013." Read more: Nadira Majumdar conferred with Anannya Literature Award 1426 This year, the Anannya Lifetime Achievement award was conferred to Sarat Mala Chakma, an eminent indigenous craft artist from Rangamati's Tabalchari Master Colony. The 90-year-old artist has received many awards at home and abroad.

The longest-running Amar Ekushey Book Fair concluded in the capital Thursday. The 31-day fair is estimated to have sold books worth Tk52.50 crore. Traditionally held throughout February every year at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan, the fair's 2022 edition started on February 15 after a pandemic-induced delay. Jalal Ahmed, director of the Bangla Academy and member secretary of the Ekushey Book Fair Committee, presented the sales report of this year at the closing ceremony.