Staff Correspondent

‘The Birangana Sakhina (BS) Silver Pen Award was handed over to noted film actor Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Uzzal for his contributions to the cultural arena from the BS Pen Award Electoral Committee of Gouripur in Mymensingh.

The actor received the award and certificate from Mohammad Raihan Uddin Sarkar, the founder and General Secretary of the Electoral Committee for Birangana Sakhina Silver Pen Award, at his residence ( Banani of the capital city) in Dhaka Saturday afternoon.

At this time, the Head of Economics department of Kushtia Islamic University, a writer, and an editor of Pen Award Affairs magazine, Professor Dr. Abu Raihan (Raihan Sharif), General Secretary of Gouripur Reporters Club Zahirul Huda Liton and General Secretary of ACECC Youth Association Shahadat Shah.

Uzzal is called the first megastar of Bengali films, original name Ashraf Uddin Ahmed.

At that time, Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP Central Committee Cultural Secretary Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Ujjwal said, "I am eternally grateful for coming to my home and handing over the award to me." The film industry had its heyday in the past.

He lamented that he was the hero and part owner of 'Birangana Sakhina' movie. Currently there is not a single copy of this movie film in the film industry. All film reals were destroyed.

Uzzal acted as hero in the movie 'Binimoy' directed by Nandit director Subhash Dutt. After that he acted in numerous popular movies including Samadhi, Nalish, Usila, Naseeb, Crime, Solution.

On March 30, 2024 Birangana Sakhina Silver Pen Awarda were given to 18 meritorious people of the country at Shahid Sahab Uddin Auditorium of Mymensingh City Corporation. Actor Uzzal could not attend the award ceremony due to his personal reasons.

This award is given for commendable and honorable contribution in various fields. Nayak Uzzal has been nominated for Bangana Sakhina Silver Pen Award-2020 by The Electoral Committee forBirangana Sakhina Silver Pen Award for his glorious and commendable contribution in the fields of arts, education, language and literature.

Birangana Sakhina was a role model for great woman horse fighter in the history of greater Mymensingh as well as then subcontinent India. Sakhina is one the heroines of Eastern Bengal Ballads of Mymensing .(Mymensingh Gitikas). The historical events as high cultural level reached by the people of greater Mymensingh region are manifest in their folk-lore and ballads.

The ballad of love story of Sakhina, the daughter of Omar Khan, with Dewan Feroj Khan, the grand son of Isha Khan, is based on a true story which took place at the end of the 17th century during the rein of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. This event had been sung and performed on stages in villages of this region since the end of story in tragedy.

People from distant places take a journey of pilgrimage to the grave of Sakhina Bibi in the village of Kumri in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh distinct.