UNESCO Cultural Award'05

. PHOTO: STAR

The awardees are popular small screen actress Bijori Barkatullah and Sumaiya Shimu, Nurjahan Alim for folk songs, dancers Mita Afrin Badhon, Irin Parvin, Tahmina Anwar Anika and Aporajita Mustafa, Tamanna Binte Rahman for modeling, radio artiste Monika Nashat Nijhum, Masum Hossain and Badhon Sarkar Puja for special talent in Tagore and Nazrul songs. Special guest of the programme, UNESCO representative in Bangladesh Wolfgang Vollman, said, "Although UNESCO's main focus is on basic education in Bangladesh, one of the main programmes is to develop cultural activities." The prize giving ceremony was followed by a cultural session staged by the artistes of the organisation.