Swapan Kumar Singh :

The Bangla Academy has honoured Professor Nripendralal Das and renowned Rabindra Sangeet artiste Bulbul Islam with the prestigious “Rabindra Award 2026” for their remarkable contributions to Rabindra literature research and Tagore music.

The award ceremony took place on Monday at the Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy in Dhaka as part of celebrations marking the 165th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.

The awards were presented by Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq and Director General Professor Mohammad Azam.

Each recipient received a cash prize of Tk 100,000, along with a commemorative crest, certificate and bouquet.

Speakers at the programme said research, literary practice and musical engagement remain essential in introducing Tagore’s philosophy and creativity to younger generations. They also praised the awardees for their significant role in promoting Tagore’s humanist ideals and cultural heritage.

In his welcome address, Mohammad Azam said the literary and intellectual legacy of Rabindranath Tagore continues to hold strong relevance in the modern world. He stressed the importance of re-evaluating Tagore’s works through contemporary social perspectives and critical interpretation.

Writer Prashanta Mridha presented the keynote paper titled Rabindranath’s Fiction, while discussants Nasima Anis and Raihan Rain spoke on the multidimensional representation of human life in Tagore’s stories and novels.

Expressing his reaction after receiving the award, Professor Nripendralal Das said the recognition of his decades-long research on Tagore would inspire him to continue his scholarly work with greater dedication and responsibility.

Bulbul Islam described the honour from Bangla Academy as one of the most significant achievements of her musical career and said she hopes to work more actively for the promotion of Rabindra Sangeet in the coming years.

The cultural segment of the event featured performances by Laisa Ahmed Lisa and Farhin Khan Joyita, while Tagore’s poetry was recited by Nasim Ahmed.

The programme was conducted by Bangla Academy Deputy Director Dr Mahbuba Rahman.