Ahmad Rafique, Jyoti Prakash Dutta, Mazhar Sircar get BRAC Bank-Samakal Literature Award 2016

Ahmad Rafique, Jyoti Prakash Dutta and Mazhar Sircar have won the BRAC Bank-Samakal Literature Award 2016.

Language Movement veteran Dr Ahmad Rafique received the award for his book 'Ekusher Dinlipi' under the essay, autobiography, travelogue and translation category. 

Jyoti Prakash Dutta's 'Swapner Simanai Parapar' won the award under fiction category while bdnews24.com Sub-Editor Mazhar won the Humayun Ahmed Award for his first novel 'Rajniti'. The Humayun Ahmed Award is meant for young litterateurs.

The award-giving ceremony was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka on Saturday.

In addition to receiving crests, they were donned with sashes and given special citations at the programme. 

After receiving the award, Ahmad Rafique said, "There is no doubt that award makes writers happy. But, I think a writer's responsibility increases when he or she gets an award."

A doctor by training, and one of the key organisers of the Language Movement, Bangla Academy Fellow Rafique established Rabindra Charcha Kendra.

Ekushey Padak winner Joyti Prakash, an expatriate Bangladeshi in New York, came to Dhaka for a day to receive the award.

He said he had confusion over how the readers would take his 'Swapner Simanai Parapar', written in a new literary genre.

"This award has removed the confusion. It has recognised a different type of writing," he added.

His last book, 'Jibonanonder Khonje', was published by bdnews24 publishing limited or bpl at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in February.

Mazhar, who studied Economics at Dhaka University, said, "I am very glad. This award makes me more committed to what I do. I've understood that I will have to write, I can write, I can speak about people."   

He recalled an unfortunate event of his life:  He left the job at another newspaper after someone complained to his employer for bringing books to the office.

"But today I feel proud; because Toufique Imrose Khalidi, the editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com, where I work now, has come to the programme. As a writer, there is nothing happier than when his or her colleagues share the achievement," he said.  

Finance Minister AMA Muhith was the chief guest at the programme. Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar and BRAC Bank CEO Selim RF Hussain were also present. 

National Professor Mustafa Nurul Islam, Professor Hayat Mahmud, poet Asad Chowdhury and author Selina Hossain were the members of the jury board. 

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