18 cultural icons get Shilpakala Padak

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy awarded the "Shilpakala Padak 2019 and 2020" to 18 cultural personalities and two cultural organisations during an event at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy yesterday.

President Abdul Hamid joined the event virtually as chief guest, while State Minister of Cultural Affairs KM Khalid handed over the awards, on his behalf.

Each awardee received Tk 1 lakh, a gold medal and a certificate.

The awardees of 2019 are Mohammad Moniruzzaman (instrumental – flute), Lubna Marium (dance), Hasina Momtaz (vocal), Abdul Mannan (fine arts), Masud Ali Khan (dramatics), M A Taher (photography), Shamvu Acharaya (folklore), Hasan Arif (recitation), Anupam Hayat (film) and cultural institution Chhayanaut (creative cultural unit).

For 2020, the selected cultural personalities are Shamsur Rahman (instrumental – shehnai), Shibli Mohammad (dance), Mahmudur Rahman Benu (vocal), Shahid Kabir (fine arts), Malay Bhowmick (dramatics), Shafiqul Islam Swapan (photography), Shah Alam Sarkar (folklore), Dahlia Ahmed (recitation), Shameem Akhtar (film) and Dinajpur Nattya Samity (creative cultural unit).

"I believe the development of art is not possible without properly acknowledging artists. The initiative taken by Shilpakala Academy will play a great role in making our country more enlightened and humane," said the president.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan attended the event as a special guest.

Shilpakala Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky delivered the welcome note at the event.

The Shilpakala Padak has been awarded since 2013, to deserving creative personalities for their outstanding contributions to the arts.