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.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday promised to spread further the great Bangla, its literature and the country’s culture and heritage across the world as Bangladesh’s rich diversity has its own strength. “Our efforts will be to spread Bangla language, literature, and culture more in the international arena and I believe that we will be successful in that,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while distributing the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second highest civilian award, among 24 eminent personalities in recognition of their contributions to various fields. The programme was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. The Prime Minister joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobahban. READ: Prepare universal pension scheme for all: Hasina Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq distributed the prestigious award among the recipients on behalf of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also said the government has been working relentlessly to change the fate of the grassroots level and deprived people. “More importantly, we want to attain economic emancipation.” She said Bangladesh is advancing and will continue its journey towards prosperity. Briefly describing the struggle of the country’s Independence from Language Movement, Hasina said that sacrifices of many people have made the Bangladesh independence possible. “Independence does not come through a sudden declaration of any person, that did not come, the independence came through the journey of the struggle. And that struggle was launched by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she added. The PM went on saying, “The contribution of him (Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) is the independent Bangladesh and this country emerged as a country of a Nation." Recalling the efforts to erase the contributions of Bangabandhu after his assassination in 1975, Hasina said his contributions to the Language Movement and Liberation War had also most been erased. "But the reality is, no one could erase the truth and history." READ: Spread Bangladesh’s vibrant cultural activities: Hasina Congratulating the awardees, the Prime Minister said the new generation will come forward to devote themselves to the welfare of the country and its people following their footsteps. State Minister for the Cultural Affairs Ministry KM Khalid presided over the programme while Secretary of the ministry Md Abul Monsur delivered the welcome address. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam conducted the award-giving ceremony and read out the citations of the recipients, organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The Prime Minister reiterated her call to all to take Covid-19 vaccine as the government is providing it free of cost when many rich countries are not doing so. Hasina urged all the responsible people, both in government and private sectors, to make sure their near and dear ones as well as neighbours are vaccinated. She also called upon all to properly maintain health safety protocols to escape the virus infections.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday stressed the need for more translations of Bangla literature as her government wants to spread it across the world.