He made the announcement at a press conference organised by the National Poetry Council at the National Press Club today
Poet Mohon Raihan at a press conference organised by the National Poetry Council at the National Press Club on 1 March. Photo: TBS
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Poet Mohon Raihan at a press conference organised by the National Poetry Council at the National Press Club on 1 March. Photo: TBS
Poet Mohon Raihan has said he will accept the suspended Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025, stating that he is doing so out of respect for the decision of the newly elected prime minister and in the interest of protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty.
He made the announcement at a press conference organised by the National Poetry Council at the National Press Club today (1 March).
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs had temporarily suspended his 2025 Bangla Academy Literary Award following public criticism and reactions on social media over allegations against him.
After an emergency meeting on Friday (27 February) and approval from the prime minister, it was decided that he would officially receive the award tomorrow (2 March), separately from the other awardees who were honoured on Thursday (26 February).
At the press conference, Mohon Raihan said that since his name appeared on the award list, a vested interest group had started a campaign against him on social media.
He alleged that the award was suspended at the last moment using a poem written 41 years ago as grounds.
“False and fabricated allegations have been spread since the announcement of my name on the award list. This is not just a personal insult to me, but an attack on free thought,” he said.
He added that the suspension of the award had drawn criticism at home and abroad.
He said the Ministry of Cultural Affairs later informed him that the award would be presented to him on 2 March with the consent of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
“I am deciding to accept the award by placing trust in the promise made by the newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which was: ‘Encourage good work, and criticise if I make a mistake,'” he said.
During the conference, he announced that he would not use the award money personally and called for it to be spent on the welfare of insolvent poets, writers or cultural activists.
He requested that he be allowed to receive the award from the prime minister in accordance with the rules and suggested that the date could be changed if necessary.
Calling for reform of the policy, he urged that the award process be made transparent, non-partisan and led by experts so that no writer faces a similar situation in future.
Other poets and writers were present at the press conference.
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