Founded in 2004 by eminent novelist Rabeya Khatun in honor of Fazlul Haque—a pioneer of Bangladeshi film journalism, editor of the country's first movie magazine Cinema, and director of Bangladesh's first children's film—the annual award recognizes excellence in filmmaking and media coverage. Sumon, who achieved widespread acclaim for directing the hit feature films Hawa and Roid, is being honored in the film direction category. Journalist Mahmuda Chowdhury, who began her career in 1978 with Saptahik Begum before working for nearly a decade and a half at Bichitra and later joining Dainik Dinkal, receives the honor for film journalism. Chowdhury is also the author of research works including Zahir Raihan's Cinema: Social Thoughts and Woman: Half the World, published by the Bangladesh Film Archive. The awards will be formally presented during a ceremony at Channel i studios on October 26, commemorating the death anniversary of Fazlul Haque.