Oitijhyo-Shantanu Kaiser Literary Award 2025 presented to three authors alongside publication of 10-volume omnibus
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The second annual Oitijjhya-Shantanu Kaiser Literary Award was conferred on Tuesday in a ceremony held at the Poet Shamsur Rahman Seminar Room of Bangla Academy. Alongside the award presentation, the 10-volume collected works of the multi-disciplinary writer Shantanu Kaiser were officially unveiled.
Established jointly by the publishing house Oitijjhya and the Shantanu Kaiser Memorial Library and Research Center, the award seeks to honor the late professor’s creative legacy and intellectual contributions. Three writers were recognized for the 2025 edition of the prize: poet Hemayet Ullah Emon for his poetry collection “Phenaphul,” Zubayer Rashid for his docufiction “Galiber Mushayaray,” and playwright Sharan Ehsan for his play “Purnama.” Each recipient was awarded a crest, a certificate of appreciation, and a cash prize of 50,000 taka. These titles were released by Oitijjhya during the Amar Ekushey Book Fair in 2026.
Emeritus Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, who was scheduled to attend as the chief guest, was unable to appear due to sudden illness. A pre-recorded video message was screened in his stead, in which he lauded his former student, Shantanu Kaiser, as a writer deeply committed to humanitarian values.
Arifur Rahman, CEO of Oitijjhya, noted that the publishing house began its journey 25 years ago with the release of two of Kaiser’s books. He stated that the publication of Kaiser’s complete works aims to preserve the author’s legacy for future generations. Rahman also emphasized that the Oitijjhya-Shantanu Kaiser Literary Award serves as a platform for nurturing young, talented voices in the Bangladeshi literary scene.
During the event, theatre director Fayez Zahir reflected on Kaiser’s multifaceted career as a playwright and literary figure, describing him as a visionary who dreamed of a balanced society. The winning works were discussed by fiction writer Papri Rahman, followed by reflections from the award recipients.
Russell Raihan, the editor of the collected works and the youngest son of Shantanu Kaiser, joined the ceremony virtually from Australia. He expressed his gratitude to Oitijjhya for bringing his father’s extensive body of work to the public and noted the positive impact the award has had on the country’s youth.
In his concluding remarks, session chair Professor Mohit Ul Alam praised Kaiser as a polymath whose work as an essayist, researcher, poet, and educator continues to sharpen the consciousness of readers. He remarked that the publication of the collected works and the continuation of this literary award are significant milestones in promoting intellectual discourse and supporting emerging writers.
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