Bangladeshi Poet Nurul Hoque Honored with SAARC–FOSWAL Lifetime Achievement Award 2026
DHAKA / NEW DELHI — Eminent Bangladeshi poet, essayist, and literary editor Nurul Hoque has been selected for the prestigious SAARC–FOSWAL Lifetime Achievement Award 2026. The accolade recognizes his over three-decade commitment to poetry, cross-cultural understanding, and fostering global literary exchange.
The formal presentation will take place during the opening ceremony of the 67th SAARC Literature Festival, organized by the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL), in New Delhi, India, on November 15, 2026. The award carries a prize of approximately BDT 200,000 alongside a commemorative citation.
Regional Literary Recognition
FOSWAL selected six distinguished literary figures across the region for the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award:
Nurul Hoque (Bangladesh)
Kunzang Choden (Bhutan)
Alok Bhalla, Amarendra Khatua, and Suresh Goel (India)
Keshab Sigdel (Nepal)
In tandem, eight writers received the SAARC–FOSWAL Literature Award 2026: Deo Prakash Choudhary, Shehpar Rasool, Rawel Singh, Kavita Singhal, Anamika, and Vanita from India; Kumar Hettiarachchi from Sri Lanka; and Ram Dayal Rakesh from Nepal.
Profile: Nurul Hoque’s Creative Journey
Born in Cumilla, Bangladesh, in 1965, Hoque’s writing spans Bengali and English. His works address themes of peace, nature, humanism, spiritual introspection, and existential resilience.
Hoque was previously named World Laureate in Literature (2018) by the Kazakhstan-based World Nations Writers’ Union.
While official political forums in South Asia often face diplomatic impasses, organizations like FOSWAL—headquartered at the Academy of Fine Arts and Literature in New Delhi—serve as vital channels for soft power and non-governmental dialogue. Honoring writers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka reinforces shared heritage and regional ties. Hoque’s selection highlights the vitality of contemporary Bangladeshi literature. Writing in both local idiom and global English, his work bridges local heritage with worldwide readership. Through publications like Odyssey Asia, Hoque has built platforms that operate outside traditional Western publishing corridors. These networks foster direct exchanges between writers across Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, advocating for South-South literary cooperation.
Read: The Poetics of Solitude and Existence
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