The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Three litterateurs were adorned with the 'Bangla Academy Literature Award' this year for their outstanding contribution in different fields of literature.

Bangla Academy announced the name of the awardees yesterday. The awardees are Manjur-e-Maula, for creative section for his poems, Jatin Sarker for research and essays and Lutfar Rahman Riton for translation and juvenile literature.

The Bangla Academy Director General Prof Syed Muhammad Shahed announced the name of the winners yesterday afternoon. The winners will be honoured with Tk 1,00000 each, a crest and a certificate on February 28.

Syed Muhammad Shahed said the nomination and selection process this year for the awards were transparent and no favours took place for any body during the process.

"This year we want recommendation for nomination from all the Bangla Academy fellows who got Bangla Academy prizes and the jury board could not name anyone for nominations.

Last year the award was given to five persons in six criteria.

Jatin Sarker in his immediate reaction told New Nation that it was a great feeling for him to be awarded with the prestigious Bangla Academy Awards.

Meanwhile the Amar Ekushey Book Fair yesterday was a bit more crowded as the weather did not deteriorate after last night's heavy showers though the crowd was not that much jam-packed.

Humayun Ahmed's novels and Dhaka University teacher Prof Anwar Hossain's 'Remand O Karagarer Dinolipi', diary during remand and custody, were among the best sellers in the past few days.

Fifty four new arrivals hit the fair yesterday with 7 story books, 8 novels, 11 poetry books and one juvenile literature.

Few books were launched yesterday. Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Liberation army Air Vice Marshal AK Khandoker launched a song book of Kamal Lohani, Dr Mizanur Rahman Shely opened cover of books 'Pressure Groups Dynamics of Bangladesh,' and Unbundling Human Rashid and dramatist Mamunur Rahish opened cover of a book titles 'Gaurab', Pride.

The fair is expected to be over crowded, as the Amar Ekushey will be observed today.