Staff Correspondent:

On January 25 at 3 PM, the Oishi Bangla National Literary Conference 2025 took place at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Dhaka. The event, organized by the national daily Oishi Bangla, carried the slogan, “A nation that does not honor its talents cannot produce them.” Held in anticipation of Language Month in February, the conference became a remarkable gathering of renowned writers, poets, artists, and intellectuals.

National Film Award and Ekushey Padak recipient Syed Abdul Hadi attended the event as the chief guest. Former Minister of Religious and Water Resources Affairs, and Chairman of BLDP, M. Nazim Uddin Al-Azad, delivered the keynote speech. The conference commenced with the national anthem at 3 PM and was inaugurated by international poet and researcher Dr. S. M. Shahnoor, also the Literary Editor of Oishi Bangla.

Presided over by Sufi A. R. M. Muhiyuddin Khan Farooqi, the Editor and Publisher of Oishi Bangla, the event featured celebrated musician and scholar Prakritjo Shamim Rumi Titon as the principal speaker. Dr. Jahangir Alam Rustam, an internationally renowned poet and environmental scientist, served as the main discussant.

Special guests included:

• Chowdhury Daulat Mohammad Jafri (President of All Broadcasters Community – ABC)

• Freedom Fighter Ziaul Haque (President of Progressive Literary Association)

• Debashish Ranjan Sarkar (Secretary-General, ABC)

• Iqbal Bahar Zahid (Founder of A Story to Call My Own Foundation)

• Md. Fazlul Karim Mithu Mia (Social Worker and Philanthropist)

• Sohel Ahmed Khan (Social Worker and Politician)

• Lokman Hossain Pola (General Secretary, Kasba Press Club, Brahmanbaria)

• Md. Abul Hashem (Advisor, Oishi Bangla).

Three individuals were awarded the “Oishi Bangla Literary Award 2025” during the event:

1. Md. Sajjad Hossain Jamal – Poet and versatile writer (1st place)

2. Tahmina Akhtar Pata – Poet, novelist, and children’s author (2nd place)

3. Saida Aziz Chowdhury – Poet and fiction writer (3rd place).