Mohon Raihan Denied Bangla Academy Award

Despite being nominated for the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025, acclaimed poet Mohon Raihan did not receive the prize, stirring controversy within the literary community. On Thursday afternoon, Raihan confirmed the development in a post on his Facebook page, describing the news as “unexpected” and expressing disappointment over the decision.

In his post, Raihan emphasised that he had not lobbied for the award, noting that the selection committee had chosen him spontaneously. He further revealed that the award’s withdrawal was linked to a poem he had written 41 years ago about Colonel Taher, titled ‘Taherer Shopno’. Raihan stated that during a rehearsal for the award ceremony the previous day, he discovered that a committee had cancelled his award at the behest of influential individuals, despite his official selection being announced.

When approached for comment, Minister of Cultural Affairs Nitai Roy Chowdhury told our representative that, “There are multiple complaints against Mohon Raihan. These matters are currently under review, and the award will be officially confirmed once the examination is complete. His nomination was made under the previous government. We will carefully evaluate the issues before arriving at a decision.” He declined to provide specifics regarding the nature of the complaints.

Similarly, State Minister for Culture Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khayem informed our representative that, “Due to several allegations, Mohon Raihan’s award has been temporarily withheld. We are currently verifying the complaints, and a decision will be made once the review is concluded. Patience is required.”

The Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025 winners were formally handed over by Prime Minister Tarek Rahman earlier today. Raihan’s nomination in the poetry category had been announced on Monday in a Bangla Academy press release.

Raihan currently serves as President of the National Poetry Council. The Bangla Academy Director General Mohammad Azam confirmed that the temporary withholding of the award was due to complaints concerning Raihan’s literary works. “Once the review is completed, we will announce the final decision immediately,” he stated.

The following table summarises key details regarding the 2025 award:

The incident has prompted discussion in literary circles. While some view the suspension as a procedural safeguard, others argue that withholding the award from a nominated poet constitutes an act of disrespect. Authorities have assured that a final announcement regarding Raihan’s award is expected in the coming days, highlighting the delicate balance between literary recognition and scrutiny of historical works.