Historian Dr Mominul Haque Academy honours 40 distinguished personalities from four Sylhet districts
The Historian Dr Mominul Haque Academy has honoured 40 distinguished personalities from the four districts of Sylhet Division. They were presented with crests and medals in recognition of their special contributions to social service, education, culture and human welfare.
The academy's traditional annual award and medal ceremony was held in a festive and colourful atmosphere at the Sylhet Public Library on Saturday afternoon (24 October). Distinguished personalities selected from Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj and Habiganj districts were honoured together on one stage at this year's event.
The programme began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by the organisation's assistant secretary, Qari Md Sharif Ahmed. General secretary Md Fataur Rahman then delivered the welcome address, thanking the invited guests and the award recipients and presenting an account of the organisation's activities over the year.
Jointly compered by Md Fataur Rahman and presenter Happy Jannat, the ceremony was presided over by the academy's president, Abu Saleh Ahmed. Professor Dr Ashraful Karim of the Bangla Department at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology attended as chief guest, while Professor Dr Masudul Hasan, former principal of Habiganj Brindaban Government College, spoke as chief discussant.
In his presidential address, Abu Saleh Ahmed said the Historian Dr Mominul Haque Academy has long worked for education, culture and social development. He said they were delighted to honour 40 dedicated personalities chosen from the four districts of Sylhet Division, adding that such recognition will encourage the new generation of society to do good work.
Chief guest Dr Ashraful Karim said honouring talented people increases the spirit of good work in society. Bringing 40 accomplished people from the four districts of the Sylhet region onto one stage to honour them was a timely and commendable initiative, he remarked.
Special guests who addressed the ceremony included Professor Dr Muhammad Emdadul Haque of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and Selim Awwal, general secretary of the Kendriya Muslim Sahitya Sangsad in Sylhet. Also present were former Sunamganj Government College principal Md Shahadat Hossain and Syed Mashiul Hossain, along with representatives of various social and cultural organisations in Sylhet, journalists and distinguished guests from all walks of life.
After receiving their honours, awardees who shared their feelings included Raju Biswas of Habiganj, Syed Kamal Ahmed Babu of Moulvibazar, Sheikh Sujadul Haque of Sunamganj, Moaz Afsar of Sylhet, and two talented children, Debnil Saha of Sylhet and Ahnaf Alvi of Kulaura, as well as Belal Ahmad.
From Sylhet district, the recipients were: Moaz Afsar (Sylhet Sadar) for travel literature; Mohammad Aminul Islam (Osmaninagar) for poetry; Nasrin Sultana (Fenchuganj) for scouting; Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury Shefali (Golapganj) for folk literature; Aziz Ibne Gani (Beanibazar) for publication and literature; Ataur Rahman Kawsar (Balaganj) for journalism; Syed Aslam Hossain (Zakiganj) as an organiser; Md Mahbubur Rashid (Kanaighat) as a humour writer; Nurul Islam (Jaintiapur) for journalism; Layek Ahmad Masum (Companiganj) for poetry; and Suyez Hossain (Shahparan) for photojournalism.
From Sunamganj district, the honours went to: Fazlur Haque Dolon (Sunamganj Sadar) for little magazine publication; Taiyabur Rahman (Shantiganj) as a recitation artist; Dr Syed Rezwan Ahmad (Jagannathpur) for Islamic research; SM Shariat Ullah (Chhatak) for lyrical poetry; Mamun Sultan (Dowarabazar) for poetry; Syed Ahmad Asheki (Bishwambharpur) for social service; Sheikh Md Sujadul Haque (Dharmapasha) for short stories; Md Joynal Abedin Beg (Madhyanagar) for writing a book on the Liberation War; the late Golam Mortuza (Jamalganj, posthumous) for history; Farukur Rahman Chowdhury (Derai) for history; and Subrata Das (Shalla) for essay literature.
From Moulvibazar district, the recipients were: Syed Kamal Ahmad Babu (Moulvibazar Sadar) for research; Md Saidur Rahman (Rajnagar) for spreading education; Abdul Hai Idrisi (Kamalganj) for rhyme literature; Mufti Abdullah Al Faruk (Sreemangal) as an Islamic speaker; Ziaul Haque Zia (Kulaura) for fine arts; Muhammad Romij Uddin (Barlekha) for journalism; and Sajedul Islam (Juri) for public service.
From Habiganj district, the honours went to: Siddiki Harun (Habiganj Sadar) for essay literature; Advocate VD Newton (Lakhai) for folk literature; Muhammad Sayedur Rahman Talukdar (Madhabpur) for the Liberation War; Saifur Rahman Kayes (Chunarughat) for essay literature; Asad Chowdhury (Bahubal) for story literature; Shah Munsur Ahmed Selim (Nabiganj) for short stories; Md Mizanur Rahman Thakur (Baniachong) for regional literature; Ataur Rahman Bongi (Ajmiriganj) for Islamic literature; and Md Abdul Wadud (Raju Biswas) of Shayestaganj for theatre direction.
In addition, in the talented children category, Ahnaf Alvi of Kulaura was honoured for presenting in the Sylheti language and Neel Dev of Sylhet for children's subjects.
The event was actively managed by academy president Abu Saleh Ahmed; vice-presidents Kazi Shahed Bin Zafar and Joynal Abedin Beg; general secretary Md Fataur Rahman; joint general secretary Md Suyez Ahmad; assistant secretary Md Sharif Ahmad; organising secretary Syed Niaz Ahmed; finance secretary Nasrin Sultana; literary secretary M Arafat; women's secretary Shahina Jalali Piara; and executive members Md Anwar Ahmad, Mohammad Abdul Muhit, Maksud Ahmed Lal, Sheikh Sadek Imtiaz and poet M R Thakur, among others. Held in keeping with the tradition of previous years, the ceremony turned into a gathering of distinguished personalities from across the division.
