29 artists, cultural organisation receive district Shilpakala awards in Habiganj

Twenty-nine distinguished artists and a creative cultural organisation have received the District Shilpakala Academy Award 2020–2025 in recognition of their contributions to the arts and cultural arena of Habiganj.
The awards were handed over at a ceremony held at the District Shilpakala Academy auditorium in Habiganj on Thursday afternoon, September 17.

The programme was organised by the District Shilpakala Academy, Habiganj.

Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mohammad GK Gaus MP, attended the programme as the chief guest.

District Commissioner and District Magistrate Dr GM Sarfaraz presided over the event.

Police Superintendent Md Tarek Mahmud, writer and researcher Prof Jahan Ara Khatun, and JASAS Habiganj convener Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury attended as special guests.

District Cultural Officer and member-secretary of the award selection committee Asit Baran Das Gupta delivered the welcome address. Recitation artist and trainer Nahida Khan Surmi moderated the programme.

Prof Md Elias Bakht Chowdhury (Jalal) and Prof Md Ashraful Karim spoke on behalf of the award recipients.

For 2020, the awards went to Bir Muktijoddha Golam Mostafa Rafiq in vocal music, lawyer Md Shafikur Rahman Chowdhury in theatre, Prof Md Elias Bakht Chowdhury (Jalal) for creative cultural organisation, Tahmina Begum Gini for creative cultural research, and Abani Mohan Das for Jatra.

In 2021, Tapas Krishna Maharatna received the award for vocal music, lawyer Trilok Kanti Chowdhury for theatre, Prof Md Ashraful Karim for folk culture, Md Zahir Mia for Jatra, and Surabitan Lalitkala Training Centre was recognised as a regional creative cultural organisation.

For 2022, the recipients were Probodh Sutradar for vocal music, Babul Ahmed Mallik for theatre, Janesh Das for Jatra, Bandhumangal Roy for fine arts, and Haripada Das for instrumental music.

The 2023 awards went to Saroj Kanti Das for vocal music, Shah Alam Chowdhury Mintu for theatre, Jesmin Ara Khanam Chowdhury for dance, Asim Banik for fine arts, and Tenu Mia for instrumental music.

For 2024, the recipients were Kajal Chandra Gop for vocal music, Mohammad Harunur Rashid for theatre, Tarun Kumar Roy for fine arts, Moktadir Ibn Salam for film, and Sourav Bikash Deb for photography.

The 2025 awardees were Syed Ashikur Rahman for vocal music, Partha Pratim Sen for theatre, Mir Qamruddin Ahmed for fine arts, Subir Kanti Roy for instrumental music, and Gautam Chandra Das Sumon for dance.

The programme also observed a minute of silence in memory of recently deceased Bir Muktijoddha and cultural personality Golam Mostafa Rafiq.

Speakers said the award recipients had made significant contributions to Habiganj's cultural landscape over the years through vocal music, theatre, folk culture, Jatra, fine arts, dance, instrumental music, film, photography and cultural organisation.

Their sustained creative activities have played an important role in promoting and enriching the local arts and cultural scene, they said.