Journalist Mahmuda Chowdhury and filmmaker Mejbaur Rahman Sumon have been named recipients of the Fazlul Haque Memorial Award 2026, with the honours set to be presented on October 26 at the Channel i studio.

The awards will be presented at a programme marking the death anniversary of pioneering film journalist Fazlul Haque, according to a press release. Each recipient will receive prize money, a certificate and a crest.

Mahmuda began her journalism career in 1978 with the weekly Begum. She later worked at the now-defunct Bichitra for around 15 years before joining the Daily Dinkal. She has also authored two books, including the research work Zahir Raihan Er Chalachitra: Samaj Bhabna and Nari: Ardhek Prithibi.

Sumon first gained recognition through television fiction and advertisements before moving into filmmaking. His films Hawa and Roid have attracted audiences in Bangladesh and abroad.

Roid was also selected by the Oscar Bangladesh Committee as Bangladesh’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

The Fazlul Haque Memorial Award was introduced in 2004 by Fazlul Haque’s widow, Rabeya Khatun. Since then, the Fazlul Haque Smrity Committee has annually honoured a filmmaker and a film journalist.

Fazlul Haque was the editor of Cinema, regarded as the country’s first film magazine. He began publishing the magazine from his birthplace, Bogura, in 1950. He also directed the children’s film President, which featured his son Faridur Reza Sagar, now managing director of Channel i, as a child artiste.

Previous recipients of the award include filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, film journalist Shafiuzzaman Khan Lodi, actress Kohinur Akter Suchanda, journalist Rafi Hossain, filmmaker Kazi Hayat, Anyadin editor Mazharul Islam, filmmaker MA Alamgir and film journalist Shamim Alam Dipen, among others.