The government has announced that poet Mohon Raihan will receive the 2026 Bangla Academy Literary Award on March 2 following a review of previous allegations. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11:00am at the Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka. This decision was made after an emergency meeting at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, which was attended by the cultural affairs minister, state minister, and other senior officials.
Initially, Mohon Raihan was named as a recipient of this year’s Bangla Academy Literary Award, but the announcement was temporarily suspended due to public criticism in newspapers and on social media regarding allegations against the poet. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs issued a press release stating that in light of the complaints raised, the government opted to halt the award and investigate the allegations.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam had previously mentioned the numerous allegations against Mohon Raihan, leading to the suspension of the award. However, after a thorough review and with the approval of the prime minister, the government has decided to proceed with honoring Mohon Raihan with the prestigious 2026 award.
Last year, on February 26, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman awarded the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025 to nine individuals in recognition of their exceptional contributions to Bangla literature. The Bangla Academy Literary Award holds significant esteem as one of the most prestigious accolades in the realm of Bengali literature.