Novelist Md Ashanur Rahman receives international creative arts award 2025

Novelist and essayist Md Ashanur Rahman has received the International Creative Arts Award 2025 from the International Creative Arts, Language & Development Research Centre at the University of Dhaka, in recognition of his contribution to literature and its role in enriching minds and inspiring lives.

The award ceremony was held recently at R C Majumdar Hall, University of Dhaka.

The recognition was given for Rahman's debut novel Lenin, published in 2024, which has attracted wide critical and reader attention for its originality, philosophical depth, and historical reflection. The novel reimagines the life and ideas of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the result of nearly six years of research and creative work.

Lenin has gained readership among Bengali audiences in Bangladesh, India, and North America, and has been widely discussed for its engagement with history, ideology, and human struggle.

In 2025, Rahman published his first short story collection, Bhor O Baruder Golpo, which explores themes of memory, conflict, resilience, and hope. The stories reflect social realities shaped by violence and transformation, focusing on quiet endurance and gradual change.

Beyond his books, Rahman is actively involved in literary discourse. He co-edits Mononrekha, a half-yearly literary magazine, and Lekhalekhir Uthan, a web-based platform dedicated to art, literature, and culture. His essays regularly appear in leading national dailies, including Prothom Alo, Banik Barta, and Samakal.

Alongside his literary work, Rahman is a senior banking professional with more than two decades of experience. He currently serves as deputy managing director, chief economist, and country business manager at City Bank PLC.

The International Creative Arts Award 2025 recognises not only the success of Lenin but also a literary journey bridging professional discipline and creative expression, reaffirming literature's enduring relevance in contemporary society.