Honouring the torch bearers
On the occasion of celebrating its four decades of journey in publishing, the University Press Limited yesterday recognised 19 books, 16 individuals and six institutions with the UPL Excellence Awards 2018.
First of its kind by UPL, the awards were given to personalities with outstanding achievements, books that created tremendous impacts on the society and institutions which are paving the way as a “lighthouse”.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The awards were given at a ceremony in the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad auditorium of Bangla Academy in the capital. Eminent personalities from various fields graced the occasion.
Attending the ceremony, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said the excellence award should be given to UPL and its front man Mohiuddin Ahmed for creating an opportunity for numerous authors.
UPL has published many quality books on research, he said.
At the ceremony, a special “Extraordinary Best Seller and Outstanding Impact Award” was given to the book “Aushomapto Atmajiboni” (The Unfinished Memoirs), on the illustrious political career of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Economist Prof Rehman Sobhan and British development worker Hugh Brammer received the “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
Appreciating the recognition, Prof Rehman Sobhan said writers who wish to write and hope to be read need publishers like Mohiuddin who does not back away from taking risks.
The “Best Seller Award” went to nine books.
The books are Shawkat Ali's “Prodoshe Prakritojon”; Akhteruzzaman Elias' “Chilekothar Sepai”; Akbar Ali Khan's “Porarthaporotar Orthoniti” and “Discovery of Bangladesh: Explorations into Dynamics of a Hidden Nation”; Maidul Hasan's “Mooldhara 71”; Basanti Guhathakurta's “Ekattorer Smriti”; Abu Sayeed Chowdhury's “Probashe Muktijuddher Dinguli”; Sudeep Sen, Tanvir and Kelley Lynch's “Postcards from Bangladesh”; and Eirik G Jansen (text) and Trygve Bolstad's (photographs) “Sailing against the Wind: Boats and Boatmen of Bangladesh”.
Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government, said his first book was published by UPL in 1996. Later UPL published three more of his books, he said.
The “Outstanding Impact Award” went to nine books.
The books are Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman's “Jothashabda”; Archer K Blood's “The Cruel Birth of Bangladesh”; Rounaq Jahan's “Bangladesh Politics: Problems and Issues”; Haroun er Rashid's “Economic Geography of Bangladesh”; Thérèse Blanchet's “Lost Innocence, Stolen Childhoods”; A Mushtaque R Chowdhury and Richard A Cash's “A Simple Solution: Teaching Millions to Treat Diarrhoea at Home”; SA Karim's “Sheikh Mujib: Triumph and Tragedy”; “Rotting from the Head: Donors and LDC Corruption” (edited by Salim Rashid) and “Pakistanider Drishtite Ekattor” (edited by Prof Muntasir Mamoon and Mohiuddin Ahmed).
Author Niaz Zaman and politician Barrister Moudud Ahmed were given the “Prolific Author Award”.
UPL Director Mahrukh Mohiuddin said books sold over 5,000 copies were selected for the best-seller category while for the prolific author, writers with 10 or more books published by UPL were considered.
Starting from 1975, UPL has so far published around 1,500 books, she said.
Six institutions received the “Support Institution Award”. They are Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Brac, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) and Yunus Centre.
UPL also honoured six eminent personalities with the “Patron Award”. They are Khalid Shams, retired secretary and former director of Grameen Shakti Foundation; Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star; Waqar A Khan, founder of Bangladesh Forum for Heritage Studies; Prof GM Shahidul Alam, former head of the department of media and communication, Independent University, Bangladesh; Rubana Huq, managing director of Mohammadi Group; and Fakrul Alam, pro-vice chancellor of East West University.
The publishing house also recognised six individuals with the “Associate Award” for their contributions during its four-decade journey.
They are UPL's former chief accountant Purnendu Kumar Deb; its former publishing editor Badiuddin Nazir; proprietor of Elora Art Publicity Tofazzal Hossain Bhuiyan; founder of book binding house RA Khan and Co Rustom Ali Khan; Provincial Paper Stores owner Monir Ahmed and Zeenat Book Supply owner SAS Md Faisal.
Speaking as the chief guest, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said UPL will be credited for creating its own style in publishing industry.
Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman said UPL has been giving priority to quality books since its inception. “Hopefully, it will maintain such quality in future,” he said.
UPL Managing Director Mohiuddin Ahmed urged all to work together for making the society a better place.
The organisers also screened an interview of former Pakistani army general Rao Farman Ali at the ceremony. The interview was conducted for the book “Pakistanider Drishtite Ekattor”.
UPL will release 28 such interviews from March 26.
Prof Muinul Islam of Chittagong University, Bangla Academy Director General Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan and Bangla daily Prothom Alo's Sazzad Sharif were also present.
A panel discussion on the topic “Higher education, research and intellectual pursuits in mother-tongue” was also held.
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