Eminent Bangladeshi writer Selina Hossain has been chosen for the prestigious Saarc Literature Award in recognition of her literary excellence.

The award, which carries a cash component of Rs 50,000, a shawl, a citation and a memento, will be conferred on Selina when she attends the Saarc Literature Festival.

The four-day event will be held at the Grand Hotel in Agra from February 13. The award presentation will be held on the inaugural day.

The festival will also confer lifetime achievement award on veteran Odiya author Sitakanta Mahapatra. The award carries a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh, a citation, a shawl and a memento.

The Foundation of Saarc Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) is organising the event, FOSWAL chairperson Ajeet Caur told The Daily Star here.

She said the festival will bring together writers, scholars, artists, academics and historians from all eight Saarc countries -- India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.

Literary luminaries from Saarc countries will debate the latest literary trends and present their literary pieces for analytical comments during the festival.

The evenings will be enlivened by performances by Sufis and Darvishes. The regional Braj culture and literature will also be on display. 

Besides Selina Hossain, poet Md Nurul Huda, Jharna Rahman, Rahima Afrooz Munni, Rubana Huq and Md Saeed Rana from Bangladesh will also attend the festival.