Ujan Book Review Contest 2021 announces winners, reviews Korean literature in translation

Poet and Essayist Soroj Mostafa has won the first prize as "top critic" in the Ujan Book Review Contest 2021, organised by Ujan Prokashan. Elius Babor secured the second prize and Mazeda Mujib the third spot. 

Winners were selected by a five-member jury board comprising renowned authors and translators, including Ekushey Padak-winning writer Subrata Barua, essayist and translator Kumar Chakraborty, translator Rafiq-Um-Munir Chowdhury, poet Sohel Hasan Galib, and Korean language specialist and translator Sheuli Fateha.

Participants reviewed Bangla translations of two significant works of Korean literature—Korear Kobita (Korean Poetry) translated by Chhanda Mahbub, and Korear Golpo (Short Stories of Korea), edited by Soroishwarja Muhommod. Both translations were published by Ujan Prakashan and assisted by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, who also helped organise the contest. 

Prizes were awarded to 10 other participants: Milu Hasan, Zahid Sohag, Serajum Munira, Samprity Mallick, Olat Ehsan, Harun Sumon, Rummana Jannat, Fahad Hossain, Hasan Jamil, and Abida Tahsin Promi. Each of them will get books worth BDT 5,000.

The top three winners will get BDT 20,000, 15,000 and 10,000 respectively, or books valued equivalently to the prize money. The prizes will be handed over at a programme to be announced soon. 

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