Cinematographer Barkat Hossain Polash has received the Mishuk Munier Memorial Award 2026 for his contribution to cinematography, honouring the legacy of one of Bangladesh’s pioneers of modern broadcast journalism and filmmaking.
The award ceremony was held on Saturday, 3 October, at the seminar room of Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The Lily-Munier Memorial Preservation Trust and the family of Mishuk Munier jointly organised the event.
Abul Khayer, president of Bengal Foundation and a cultural organiser, handed the award and certificate of recognition to Polash. Noted filmmaker and programme producer Aqa Reza Galib attended the event as a special guest and delivered a speech.
The programme featured excerpts from Polash’s films and a short documentary on Mishuk Munier’s life and work. Guests also reflected on Munier’s contributions and highlighted the importance of the memorial award.
They expressed hope that the award would encourage a new generation of cinematographers and broadcast journalists to pursue objective journalism and creative filmmaking.
The award was introduced in 2023 to preserve and promote Munier’s professional values and creative spirit following his death in a road accident in 2011.
He was the second child of martyred intellectual Munier Chowdhury and noted theatre personality Lily Chowdhury.
Munier worked as a teacher in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka and became an acclaimed cinematographer at both national and international levels.
He played a key role as chief cinematographer in most of Tareque Masud’s films, from ‘Adam Surat’ to ‘Runway’, and documented the construction of the historic sculpture Aparajeyo Bangla.
In 2023, Shakil Hasan received the award for Best Reporter, while Masudur Rahman was honoured as Best Cinematographer. This year’s recognition was presented in the cinematography category based on the evaluation of works by prominent cinematographers.
Cultural workers, media professionals, cinematographers and young documentary filmmakers from across the country attended the ceremony.
