Poet Abul Hossain and actress Sumita Devi have been awarded the 'Janakantha Gunijan and Prativa Sammanona' -2002 for their respective contributions in the country's literature and film arena, a press release of Globe Janakantha Shilpa Paribar said.

Both the awardees will receive gold medals, crests and TK. 1,25,000 each including a regular monthly honorarium of TK. 5,000.

Globe Janakantha Shilpa Paribar has awarded 22 eminent persons of the country since the inception of the award in 1998.

Of the awardees, Abul Hossain had studied Economics in Kolkata Presidency College and University. He joined the government services on his return and retired in 1982.

He was the managing director of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation.

Biros Sanglap, Dushsapno theke Dushsapne and Selected Poems of Abul Hossain are among his famous poetry books.

Among other prestigious awards, Abul Hossain had been awarded Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Nasiruddin Gold Medal, Padabali Award and Kazi Mahbub Ullah Gold Medal.

The other awardee Sumita Devi was introduced with the film 'Assia' in 1957. She has since performed in about 200 films and 150 radio and television dramas. In 1959 she married eminent filmmaker Zahir Raihan.

Earlier, she was awarded the All Pakistan Critic Award in 1962, Nigar Prize in 1963. After the independence, she received the Bangladesh Film Journalist Association Award and the Television Reporters Association of Bangladesh Award. Sumita Devi was also presented the Agartala Muktijoddha Award - 2002.