Winner's Circle
Photography
1st Place
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Kazi Golam Quddus Helal
The winner for this year's Photography segment of Celebrating Life, Golam Quddus is a BUET graduated engineer working at Teletalk, who indulges in photography for the love of it.
He is also no stranger to Celebrating Life as he had already won 1st place in 2010, followed by an Honourable Mention in 2014. He had also entered in Photography contests around the world, amassing 33 different awards.
"I am overjoyed. I had a gut feeling telling me that the entry I submitted this year might be something special and I am happy to see that I was right. Celebrating Life has a huge following and it can capitalize on this by including more segments into its already existing criteria, thus bringing out more talent from the masses."
2nd Place
Md Rafayat Haque Khan
Rafayat is a freelance photojournalist, making him ideally capable in terms of talent and experience for photography. He has entered many local competitions, along with some international awards. What's more astounding is that one of his pictures was selected in National Geographic.
"I thank the Almighty for giving me the chance to enter and be awarded and recognized in a platform as glamorous and popular as Celebrating Life. I haven't been doing this long, but despite that, achieving this award will serve as an inspiration for years to come."
3rd Place
Muhammad Razib Hasan
His daily life has absolutely no connection to his photography as he is an employee from the private sector. Despite this though, his talents as a photographer is clearly present. He has entered mostly national competitions where he earned many Honourable Mentions.
"Being selected is in itself a great honour. Celebrating Life is a magnificent competition and an incredible platform and to be selected in it and then be awarded for my work is an amazing achievement to me."
Film
Best Documentary Film
Abid Hossain Khan
His passion for all things film comes from his original standing as a film activist. To get his bearings on all the know-hows of film making, he worked with some talented directors of the country, eventually gaining enough confidence in his abilities to start making his own original work and sending it to foreign film festivals with one or two being officially selected.
"Celebrating Life is a wonderful platform, combining glamour, monetary compensation, and good exposure for the entrants. I hope this platform continues onward, giving other unsung talented individuals a chance to rise to the centre stage."
Best Debut Film
Jaheen Faruque Amin
A final year Bachelor's student of Media Studies and Journalism at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, the Celebrating Life submission was his first formal work in the area of filmmaking.
His only previous experience being through university assignments, making it quite a feat to have his first work win the accolade. Undoubtedly this talented filmmaker hopes to establish himself as a filmmaker.
"The first prize I ever won was at a "dress as you like" contest when I was a child. This experience takes me back to those times. I am delighted to receive such an award and hope this would help me in my further education in the visual arts before I establish myself as a filmmaker."
Lyrics
1st Place
Mohsin Ahmed
A high school teacher from Sreepur, Gazipur, he takes his writing as a passion which he pursues beside his teaching career.
Primarily focusing on writing folk-verses for many years, his work won the Nokkhotro Shahitto Puroshkar back in 2013 in addition to being featured in various television channels and newspapers.
"I feel like I have been adorned with far more than I can carry. I have always been a man of little need and being recognized at such a grand stage never even crossed my mind. I am grateful to the organizers and hope more people, especially my gurus, who are far more talented than I am, receive such recognition in the future."
2nd Place
Tanjia Tasneem Adeeba
An HSC student from Viqarunnisa Noon School, she took up lyric writing as her hobby. This being the first recognition for her work, she hopes to continue with lyric writing if she receives external support in this pursuit.
"I am very happy for this recognition of my work. Being handed the award by Asaduzzaman Noor sir was an honour and this large platform provided by the Daily Star and Standard Chartered is a wonderful experience."
3rd Place
Rownak Ara Chaman
An Upazila Education Officer by profession, lyric writing is something close to her heart and in 2011, she received an award from Celebrating Life as well.
She hopes to continue with writing till the end of her days and expects more publicity and promotion of the contestant's work.
"I am overjoyed to be awarded again. It makes me feel that my work is of a national standard as Celebrating Life is awarding me for the second time."
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