5 PM Wednesday 14 February 2024
Bengal Shilpalay, Level 3,  House 42
Road 27, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209

Dr. Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, and Mr. Chandra Shekhar Shaha, President of the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh, will give away the ‘WCC APR Craft Master Award 2023’ and the ‘Luna Shamsuddoha Award’ to Craft Masters Mr. Gitesh Chandra Das (Shital Pati, Moulvibazar), Mr. Gopendro Nath Chokroborti (Shola/ Spongewood, Jhenaidah), and Ms. Mamtaz Begum (Nakshi Kantha, Jashore). You are cordially invited to attend.

The World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) concluded the 4th Asia Pacific Region Craft Master Program in November 2023. The event, organized by the Municipal People’s Government of Dongyang City and the China Arts and Crafts Association, witnessed the gathering of craft enthusiasts, experts, and artists from around the world. The jury reviewed 66 pre-selected entries from six sub-regions of the Asia-Pacific region and evaluated each application based on five endorsement criteria: extraordinary contribution to field, sustainable practice, international recognition, continuous learning, and international collaboration. Sixty remarkable winners emerged, each meeting a minimum of three of the stringent evaluation criteria.

Bengal Foundation is pleased to announce that in the final judgement held in Dongyang, China, in November 2023, which was deliberated by an 11-member international jury, Bangladesh secured 3 out of the 7 Craft Master Awards in the South Asia Region. The recipients of the Craft Master awards are – Mr. Gitesh Chandra Das of Moulvibazar, Sylhet (Shital Pati), Mr. Gopendro Nath Chakrabarty of Jhenaidah (Shola/ Spongewood), and Ms. Mamtaz Begum of Jashore (Nakshi Kantha).

Beyond individual acknowledgment, the Craft Master Award programme acts as a beacon for promoting and preserving traditional crafts, spotlighting global artisans and their invaluable contributions. By emphasizing sustainability, continuous learning, and collaboration, the program champions environmentally conscious craftsmanship, cultivating a united and dynamic global craft community.

The Luna Shamsuddoha Award has made it possible for the three Craft Masters to receive a financial award. Named after the late Chairperson of Dohatec New Media, Ms Luna Shamsuddoha, the award aims to recognise innovation and celebrate the contribution of talented individuals in Bangladesh. Ms Luna was a pioneer in the Information Technology sector in Bangladesh. She was also the first woman to hold the position of the Chair of Janata Bank Limited. She received Honorary Leadership Award from the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN) in Stockholm, Sweden, and the Annanya Best 10 Award in the technology entrepreneur’s category.