# Ispahani Mirzapore Banglabid

Ispahani Mirzapore Banglabid (Bengali: ইস্পাহানি মির্জাপুর বাংলাবিদ) is a merit-based TV program of Bangladesh, organised on Bengali language and literature. This program is initiated by Ispahani Tea Limited and aired on Channel i. The production of 'Ispahani Mirzapore Banglabid' first started in 2017. This competition is organised to spread pure Bengali practice, spelling and usage to the new generation. In this competition, the final winner is determined at the end of different stages through the use of pure Bengali language, spelling practice, pure pronunciation and correct application of grammar.
Students from 6th grade to 10th grade can participate in this competition, where they have to face both regional qualifiers and studio round. After the studio round, a Grand Finale is held with the top 6 contestants which is normally called 'Mohotsob' (মহোৎসব). At present, the sixth season of the program is running in 2024.

## Season 01

Ispahani Mirzapur Banglabid 2017 was the first season of Banglabid. The first season of Banglabid started on July 7, 2017. About 35000 students participated in the competition. Nusrat Sayem of Dhaka was selected as the Best Banglabid in the first season. Sirajul Arefin (Satkhira) became second in this competition. Raisa Salsabil (Sylhet) and Swaib Saniat Khan Turzo (Dhaka) became third jointly. The top ranked contestant got a merit scholarship of Tk 10 lakh as prize. Merit scholarship of Tk 3 lakh and Tk 2 lakh was given to the second and third place holders respectively. 1st to 10th place holders each got 1 laptop worth 50 thousand taka, Bengali books to build a personal library and a bookcase.

### Grand Finale

The grand finale of the first season of Ispahani Mirzapur Banglabid was held on September 15, 2017 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka. The festival was held with the final 6 contestants out of 35000. The Minister of Cultural affairs, Asaduzzaman Noor, Managing Director of Channel i Faridur Reza Sagar, two main judges of the competition Dr Soumitra Shekhar and Suborna Mustafa, Guest Judge and the Director and Head of Communication of Channel i Shykh Siraj gave the awards to the winners. Zahida Ispahani, Advisor of M. M. Ispahani Limited and Ali Ispahani, Director of Ispahani Food Limited were also present in the event.

## Season 02

Ispahani Mirzapur Banglabid 2018 was the second season of Banglabid. The second season of Banglabid started on 6 July 2018 and the Studio Round was started to air from 3 August. The Best Banglabid of the second season was Deboshmita Saha from Chittagong. The second place holder was Kareen Ashraf Een (Dhaka) and the third place holder was Sadia Afroz Antu (Rangpur). The rest of the contestants in the top ten were Dhrubo Mondol (4th), Ehsanul Qadir Shanto (5th), Afia Ibnat Shuchi (6th), Abrar Bin Kabir (7th), Tanveer Islam (8th), Srabanti Sarkar (9th) and Jannatul Bushra (10th). Among them, Dhrubo Mondol participated in the finale during 7th grade, which is the youngest among all seasons.

### Grand Finale

The grand finale of Ispahani Mirzapur Banglabid's second season was held on 5 October 2018 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre Dhaka. The program was broadcast live from the Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Channel i at 09:35 PM. The judges of the finale were Professor Dr Soumitra Shekhar, fiction writer Anisul Hoque and actress Tropa Majumdar. The winners were given their awards by the Managing Director of Channel i Faridur Reza Sagar, Director Mukit Majumdar Babu, Director of M. M. Ispahani Limited Zahida Ispahani and Mirza Ahmed Ispahani. The first place winner got Tk 10 lakh, the second place got Tk 3 lakh and the third place got Tk 2 lakh as merit scholarship. 1st to 10th place holders each got 1 laptop worth 50 thousand taka, Bengali books to build a personal library and a bookcase.

## Season 03

Ispahani Mirzapore Banglabid 2019 was the third season of Banglabid. The third season of 'Ispahani Mirzapur Banglabid' started from March, 2019. The Best Banglabid of third season was Shajedur Rahman Shahed of Rajshahi, while second was Antika Jannat (Mymensingh) and third was Ayon Chakraborty (Barisal). The 'Best Banglabid' got a merit scholarship of Tk 10 lakh as prize. Merit scholarship of Tk 3 lakh and Tk 2 lakh was given to the second and third place holders respectively. 1st to 10th place holders each got 1 laptop worth 50 thousand taka, Bengali books to build a personal library and a bookcase.

### Grand Finale

The grand finale of the competition was held on 10 October 2019 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. Author and poet Anisul Hoque, Professor Dr Soumitra Shekhar and media personality Tropa Majumdar were the main judges of the show. Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman was also present as a guest judge at the event.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni attended the show as the chief guest. Managing Director of M. M. Ispahani Limited, Mirza Shakir Ispahani and Mirza Ahmed Ispahani from M.M. Ispahani Limited were present as the special guests. Omar Hannan, general manager of Ispahani Tea Limited and other officials of Channel i and Ispahani group were also present at the event.

## Season 04

The fourth season of ‘Ispahani Mirzapore Banglabid’ started on February 14, 2020. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the fourth season was postponed in the middle of the regional qualifiers, before the studio round.

## Season 05

Ispahani Mirzapur Banglabid 2023 was the fifth season of Banglabid. The official qualifying round of the fifth season started on 20 January 2023. Around 150000 students participated in a total of 9 regional qualifiers across the country. The studio round was arranged with 80 students selected from the regional round, which started airing on 10 June 2024. After several rounds of competition in the studio round, the 'Grand Finale' was held with the final 6 contestants. Samira Mukit Chowdhury of Sylhet was selected as the Best Banglabid of this season. In this competition, Anushree Banik (Mymensingh) became second and Manami Zaman (Dhaka) became third. The top ranked contestant got a merit scholarship of Tk 10 lakh as prize. Merit scholarship of Tk 3 lakh and Tk 2 lakh was given to the second and third place holders respectively. 1st to 10th place holders each got 1 laptop worth 50 thousand taka, Bengali books to build a personal library and a bookcase.

### Grand Finale

The grand finale of the fifth season was held on 1 September 2023 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. As the judge of the competition, there were Professor Dr Soumitra Shekhar, Editor-in-chief of Kaler Kantho and poet Imdadul Haque Milan and media personality Tropa Majumder. Actor Afzal Hossain was also present at the festival as a guest judge. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni was present as the chief guest at the festival. Salman Ispahani, Chairman of Ispahani Group, Director Zahida Ispahani and Imad Ispahani were present as special guests in the event. Also present were General Manager of Ispahani Tea Limited Omar Hannan, Managing Director of Channel i Faridur Reza Sagar and other officials of Channel I and Ispahani Group.

## Season 06

Ispahani Mirzapore Banglabid 2024 is the sixth season of Banglabid. The regional qualifiers of sixth season has started on July 20, 2024 and it is still in run.

## Winners

The winner of each season in 'Ispahani Mirzapur Banglabid' is awarded the title 'Best Banglabid' (bn. সেরা বাংলাবিদ). Total 4 students have achieved the title of 'Best Banglabid' in the previous 5 seasons.
| Season | Year | Winner (Best Banglabid) | Winner's region | Season started | Grand Finale |
| 01 | 2017 | Nusrat Sayem | Dhaka | July, 2017 | 15 September, 2017 |
| 02 | 2018 | Deboshmita Saha | Chittagong | July, 2018 | 05 October, 2018 |
| 03 | 2019 | Shajedur Rahman Shahed | Rajshahi | March, 2019 | 10 October, 2019 |
| 04 | 2020 | Postponed | | February, 2020 | Postponed |
| 05 | 2023 | Samira Mukit Chowdhury | Sylhet | January, 2023 | 01 September, 2023 |
| 06 | 2024 | TBD | TBD | July, 2024 | TBD |