DHAKA, Jan 22, 2022 (BSS) - Speaker of Parliament Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury today said that the young generation's thoughts on art and literature would be given priority.

She was speaking as the chief guest at the BRAC Bank-Samakal Sahitya Puraskar 2019-20 at the Carnival Hall of Bangabandhu International Conference Center, said a press release.

Reputed novelist Selina Hossain, eminent cultural personality and author Sanjida Khatun and young poet Swaralipi have won the BRAC Bank-Samakal Literary Award 2018.

National Professor Dr Anisuzzaman was the chief guest at the event, while Daily Samakal Acting Editor Mustafiz Shafi and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BRAC Bank Selim RF Hussain were present among many prominent literary personalities.

Acting Editor of Daily Samakal Mozammel Hossain presided over the function while AK Azad and BRAC Bank MD and CEO Selim R F Hossain also spoke.

Dr Chowdhury said that literature preserves the history and heritage of the society and the state.

"Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country is in a state of development," she said.

Therefore, in order to preserve the originality and creativity of this benevolent state, the practice of literature is absolutely necessary, she said.

The Speaker said, "Bangabandhu is an unfinished autobiography because of his deep love for art literature."

Selina Hossain, eminent storyteller, Biswajit Ghosh, former Vice Chancellor of Rabindra University, BRAC Bank, senior officials of Dainik Samakal, dignitaries and senior officials of Parliament Secretariat were present as members of the jury board.

This year, a four-member jury panel led by fiction writer Hasan Azizul Haque selected the three winning books from total 487 books in three categories.

Other members of the board were fiction writers Syed Manzoorul Islam, Anwara Syed Haque and poet Helal.