‘Shaplakuri 2026’ to spotlight young talents on Channel i

Channel i is set to air the 14th edition of “Shaplakuri”, a reality competition aimed at discovering and nurturing young artistic talent across Bangladesh.

Organised under the slogan “Jekhanei Protibha, Sekhanei Amra” (“Wherever there is talent, there we are”), the competition will feature contestants selected through preliminary rounds held across 12 zones of the country.

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The competition will cover six disciplines—Qirat, recitation, acting, music, dance and instrumental music—with 15 individual and three group categories.

Each contestant may participate in up to three individual categories and one group category. First, second and third places will be awarded in each category, while two contestants from separate divisions will also be named “Shaplakuri Champions”.

Registration will remain open from July 26 to August 20, with further information available on the websites of Channel i and the Bangladesh Zia Shishu Academy.

The launch event was held at Channel i, with Minister for Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain attending as chief guest. Former minister Gayeshwar Chandra Roy was the special guest.

Also present were Channel i Managing Director Faridur Reza Sagar, Bangladesh Zia Shishu Academy Director General Humayun Kabir, Nazrul singers Ferdous Ara and Fatema-Tuz-Zohra, and singers Beauty, Laila, Moumita Barua and Smaran, among others from the cultural sector.

Speakers at the event stressed the need for sustained support and opportunities for children to develop their talents. They expressed hope that the partnership between the organisers and the television channel would strengthen the initiative and help introduce a new generation of artists to the country's cultural arena.

According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zahid Hossain said the academy has been working to discover children's hidden talents and expressed hope that the competition would help bring forward a new generation of talented artists.