Controversy Surrounds 2025 Bangla Academy Awards

The 2025 Bangla Academy Literary Award in the poetry category has become the centre of controversy after poet Mohan Raihan was ultimately denied the prize, despite the initial announcement. The incident has sparked intense debate across the nation’s literary and artistic circles, raising questions about the autonomy, governance, and procedural transparency of Bangla Academy, a constitutionally recognised autonomous institution.

This is not the first time the Academy has faced such scrutiny. In 2024, a similar controversy unfolded when the names of Mohammad Hannan (Freedom War category) and Faruk Nawaz (Children’s Literature) were initially announced and later withdrawn. In the same year, acclaimed fiction writer Selim Morshed returned his award in protest, citing procedural irregularities.

Speaking on the issue, Mohan Raihan stated, “There is no question of accepting this award. The manner in which I was treated was inhumane. I never sought the award.” He revealed that, although invited to the ceremony, he had been instructed not to receive the award. The Ministry of Culture confirmed that “certain allegations have been made against Mohan Raihan, which are under investigation before any decision can be taken.”

Bangla Academy Director General, Professor Mohammad Azam, emphasised, “No final decision has been made at this moment. Once a decision is reached, it will be publicly announced.”

Historical Precedent of Controversies

Since its establishment in 1960, the Bangla Academy Literary Award has been subject to periodic disputes. Key incidents over the decades are summarised below:

Award Selection Process

According to Bangla Academy’s regulations, the Executive Council forms a Proposal Committee of 30 fellows, which submits nominations to the Director General by 15 January each year. The Director General then appoints a seven-member award committee to finalise the shortlist. While the Executive Council may reject candidates for “justifiable reasons,” it cannot add new nominees.

Prominent writers and academics warn that any governmental or ministerial interference in the award process could severely undermine the Academy’s autonomy and credibility. Professor Samina Lutfa of Dhaka University remarked, “It is the Academy’s duty to protect the independence of poets and artists. The government must respect that autonomy.”

Mohan Raihan has announced plans to hold a press conference to provide full details of the incident, expressing hope that Bangla Academy will clarify the matter and offer a formal apology.

The episode serves as a crucial lesson for emerging generations of writers and artists on the importance of transparency, fairness, and the preservation of autonomy within cultural institutions.