Eminent poet Helal Hafiz has been honoured with the Bangla Academy Award 2014 (Poetry) for his outstanding contributions to the literary arena.
Helal Hafiz is considered as a “true representative of the poets of his generation.” His first collection of poems Je Jale Agun Jwale published in 1986 was the best-selling Bengal book in Ekushey Book Fair of the year.
Nishiddha Sampadakiya (The Banned Editorial), one of his most quoted poems inspired at least two generations of revolutionaries. During the Mass Upsurge in 1969 it became a popular slogan and a constant source of inspiration for the revolutionaries. He worked as a literary editor for many newspapers.
The Bangla Academy has announced the name of the poet on Thursday. Apart from the poet, 10 more poets and writers have nominated for the award in various categories.
The other recipients of the award included Purabi Basu for prose, Mofidul Haq for essay, Jamil Chowdhury and Provangshu Tripuara for research, Kaiser Haque for translation, Harun Habib in literature on the Liberation War, Mahfuzur Rahman in memoir and travel literature, Shahidul Islam for science, technology and environment, while Aslam Sani and Kaizer Haq bagged the award for contributions in children’s literature.
Khalid Ibne Maruf, assistant manager of Bangla Academy said each winner in individual category will get TK100, 000. They will also be honoured with medals and certificates.
The Bangla Academy has been honouring luminaries with this award since 1960.