Awards announced but not presented

Various state and private awards and medals have been introduced to recognize contributions to literature and culture. These awards not only honor distinguished individuals but also inspire writers and artists of the new generation. However, several of these awards are now effectively facing uncertainty for various reasons. Some awards have been announced but the medals have not been presented. In some cases, the entire process stopped after a notice was issued inviting books. Some other awards have also remained suspended for a long time.

In January 2024 the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy announced the Shilpakala Award for 20 individuals and organizations for the years 2021 and 2022. A press release said they were selected for their contributions in 10 separate fields. The President was supposed to present the awards and they were to be handed over subject to the President’s availability. However, after the Awami League government fell during the mass uprising on August 5 of that year the awards were not presented during the tenure of the interim government. The current BNP government has also completed six months. The Shilpakala Award remains pending.

The Agrani Bank Children’s Academy Children’s Literature Award also invited books through a notice in August 2024. That award has also not been presented. In addition, the Bangla Academy Literary Award the Ekushey Padak and the Independence Award have been presented but these awards have also faced controversy for various reasons over the past several years. Questions have also been raised about political party influence in the awards.

The privately organized Kalli O Kalam Literary Award continues to be presented but the Gemcon Literary Award has remained suspended for three years. The “Gemcon Literary Award 2022” was last presented in 2023. Those associated with the award could not confirm when the Gemcon Literary Award would be presented again.

The Faridpur Literary and Cultural Development Organization has been presenting the “Alaol Literary Award” since 1974 in memory of Alaol the Bengali poet of the medieval period of Bangla literature. This award has also not been presented since 2019.

Researcher Tapan Bagchi told Agamir Somoy, “Through presenting these awards or medals distinguished individuals are given a form of recognition or encouragement. This increases motivation for literary activities. Therefore, it is important to continue awards or medals to honor distinguished individuals.”

Professor Abdus Selim was nominated for the “Shilpakala Award 2021” for his contribution to theater. Later he did not receive the award. During the tenure of the previous interim government, he wrote to the Director General of the Shilpakala Academy seeking to know why the award had not been presented.

Professor Abdus Selim told Agamir Somoy, “I wrote in the letter asking why the award was not being given to me. If the award has been canceled, I also asked that I be informed of that.”

Agamir Somoy has seen a copy of the letter. In it Professor Selim wrote, “A decision was taken to present me with the ‘Shilpakala Award 2021’ for my significant contribution to theater. But even today this award has not been formally handed over to me. Receiving an award is a formal honorary recognition in the life of any writer or artist which motivates the award recipient to work with renewed enthusiasm. The decision at the time to present the ‘Shilpakala Award’ was taken through an official process in which the award recipients had no involvement and the matter was approved by the state. Therefore, after the announcement of the decision to present the award the candidates on the announced list acquire the right to formally receive the award. It can also be assumed that they have the right to know the current status of the announced award.”

When asked why the “Shilpakala Award” remains pending Shilpakala Director General Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, known as poet Rezauddin Stalin, told Agamir Somoy, “We have formed a committee regarding the Shilpakala Award and the selection process is underway. I hope we will be able to complete the process soon.”

When asked whether a new list was now being prepared since the award lists for 2021 and 2022 had already been published the Director General of Shilpakala said, “We are reviewing the previous list. Work is underway on this and the committee meeting will be held soon. We are trying to present at least two years of awards together.”

The Director General of Shilpakala also said that the process of presenting Shilpakala Awards at the district level is ongoing.

The Agrani Bank Children’s Academy Children’s Literature Award has also remained suspended since the July uprising. During the final period of the Awami League government children’s author Anzir Liton was the Director General of the institution. While serving in that position he issued a notice in 2024 inviting books published in 2023. The deadline for submitting books was August 29, 2024. Before that date the government changed on August 5 and the award was not presented.

The current Director General of the Children’s Academy Mosa. Arzu Ara Begum told Agamir Somoy, “We are discussing restarting it. No decision has been made yet.”

The award was introduced in 1981.

The history of the Bangla Academy also contains another award that many people have forgotten. The book “History of the Bangla Academy” written by Bashir Alhelal states that Dr. Mu. Enamul Haque received Tk 2,000 as the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1964 and donated the money to the academy in 1965 to establish a literary award in his name.

The Enamul Haque Gold Medal was later introduced. In 1967 the gold medal was awarded to Jatindra Chandra Sarkar, known as Jatin Sarkar, for his essay “The Trend of Bangla Novels in East Pakistan after Pakistan” and in 1969 to Selina Hossain for her essay “The Trend of East Pakistani Short Stories after Pakistan.”

An inquiry found that the gold medal introduced in the name of Enamul Haque has also remained suspended for many years.

Yet Dr. Mu. Enamul Haque is one of the brightest names in the history of the establishment of the Bangla Academy. Officials of the institution could not confirm whether the gold medal introduced in his name would be reinstated.

As a result, the question remains: What is the future of these awards and medals established to recognize distinguished individuals and inspire literary activities? Will they return or will their names and traditions disappear with time?