Andalib Rushdie awarded

 
Novelist Andalib Rushdie has received ‘Nayanjuli Begum Aklima Khatun Literary Award 2025’ for his novel ‘Coffiner Janala’. The award was introduced to honour the memory of late Begum Aklima Khatun and to encourage literary pursuits.

The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the Bangladesh National Museum on Saturday.

Jury member Bijon Kanti Sarkar praised the initiative, while Culture Secretary Kaniz Maula stressed the need to link cultural practice with people’s daily lives. Former additional secretary Syed Mahmud Hasan described Rushdie’s literary works as deserving of deep reading.

Dr Mohammad Ali Khan, founder of the award, said it was established in memory of his grandmother, Begum Aklima Khatun, who was self-educated and had a lifelong passion for reading. He said the award is given only to novels published within the previous two years and selected by a jury board.

The award included Tk 25,000, a crest and a certificate. Accepting the honour, Andalib Rushdie announced that he would spend the prize money on girls’ education and welfare initiatives in memory of Begum Aklima Khatun.