Seven cultural personality of the country to be awarded Shilpakala Padak

Bangladesh Shipakala Academy (BSA) announced the names of seven noted artists from various fields of art to be honoured with 'Shilpakala Padak-2015'. These reputed artists were declared for their contribution to the development of Drama, Music, Dance, Recitation, Photography and Painting.
The recipients are: Saleha Chowdhury for dance, Nadira Begum for folk culture, Kazi Borhanuddin for drama, Sujeo Shyam for music, Nikhil Sen for recitation, Syed Abul Barak Alvi for fine arts, and Mihir Nandi for song. President M Abdul Hamid will hand over the awards through a colourful programme at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on May 5, said Liaquat Ali Lucky, the academy's director general. He also ensured the presence of cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor and secretary Begum Akhteri Momtaz. Each award will consist of a certificate, a medal with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy's name embossed on it, and a cheque for Tk 100,000. A cultural program will be held at the end of the event and three group dances will be performed under direction of Shibli and Nipa in the program too.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, national institute for fine and performing arts, introduced the award in 2013 to honour the reputed artistes for their contributions to their respective fields of art and culture in the country.  Kazi Borhan Uddin, 79, has directed more than 25 theatre plays and acted in 65 for Dinajpur-based Natya Samiti. It was informed that 61-year old Saleha Chowdhury has been practising dance since 1965. In her eventful career, she served as a trainer at Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Azimpur Ladies Club and Rangdhanu Lalitakala Academy. Nadia Begum, 68, is a singer, lyricist, composer and music director. She has worked as a music trainer for Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka University and several other organisations.
Shujeyo Shyam, 70, joined East Pakistan Radio as a guitarist in 1968. Later, he emerged as an accomplished music director and worked in films such as Hason Raja, Haat Kora, and Joyjatra. Nikhil Sen, 85, is a recitation artiste associated with Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi. He has received many awards including Group Theatre Federation Padak, Amrito Padak, and Naren Biswas Padak.
Syed Abul Barak Alvi, 67, has participated in more than 150 group exhibitors at home and aboard. He also served as a dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. Mihir Kumar Nandi, 71, has taught classical music at Chhayanaut, Alauddin Lalitakala Kandrea and institutions. He is also a notable Tagore singer.