Meril-Prothom Alo Awards

Meril Prothom Alo Awards or Prothom Alo Awards is an annual Bangladeshi awards ceremony honouring cinematic achievements in Bangladeshi Film Industry. The awards are divided into two components, Viewers' Choice and Critics' Choice. The awards were first presented in 1998 and since then the awards are given every year at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).

The 19th Meril Prothom Alo Awards ceremony was held on 20 April 2017 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center. Meril Prothom Alo Awards receive the highest number of viewers among Bangladesh's Awards Ceremonies. Meril Prothom Alo Awards are Bangladesh's equivalent to America's Academy Awards.

History
Meril Prothom Alo Awards were first awarded in 1998. The awards ceremony was organised and held by Bangladesh's largest newspaper Daily Prothom Alo and Square Toiletries Limited. After the construction of BICC in 2002, the awards ceremony was moved to a new location and in 2002, the awards ceremony for the first time was held in front of a large audience. The awards include nominations in more than 30 categories and 2 honorary awards (includes lifetime achievements award).

Nomination
Meril Prothom Alo Awards is divided into two different nomination processes, the Viewers Choice Awards nominations are made based on votes received from audiences and viewers while the jury nominations are selected by the board members (consist of veteran Bangladeshi directors, actors, actresses and producers, and other film personalities).

Voters
The Meril Prothom Alo Awards (MPAA) committee, consists of several selected members' votes on selecting the nominees for each award category. All voters have to be certified by The Prothom Alo Corporation. After the nominees are shortlisted, the nominations are made available to public and they can vote for any of the nominees.

Board members
The board members (known as the Juries) decide the nominations and winners of Critics Choice Awards, which also include honorary awards. The Critics Choice Awards are given in 10 categories. The board, often consists of 8–10 members.


 * 1999
 * Best Movie Actor - Male
 * Movie Actor - Male
 * Manna - (Ammajan)
 * Riaz
 * Ferdous
 * Best Movie Actor - Female
 * Shabnur (Ei Mon Tomake Dilam)
 * Moushumi
 * Poppy
 * Best Singer - Male
 * Andrew Kishore (Brindamon)
 * Ayub Bacchu
 * Tapan Chowdhury
 * Best Singer - Female
 * Kanak Chapa (Eto Shundor Prithibi)
 * Runa Laila
 * Sabina Yasmin
 * Best Model - Male
 * Nobel (TVC)
 * Pollob
 * Shimul
 * Best Model - Female
 * Sadia Islam Mou (TVC)
 * Tarin
 * Riya
 * Best TV Commercial
 * Keya Super Lemon Soap
 * Berger Paints
 * Meril Beauty Care Soap
 * Best Magazine TV Show
 * Ityadi (Hanif Sanket)
 * Flop Show
 * Shubheccha
 * Best Music Band
 * LRB
 * Ark
 * Nagar Baul
 * Best TV Actor - Female
 * Bipasha Hayat
 * Shomy Kayser
 * Afsana Mimi
 * Best TV Actor - Male
 * Zahid Hasan
 * Azizul Hakim
 * Tauquir Ahmed
 * Best TV Natok Story
 * Abul Hayat (Unmesh)
 * Giasuddin Selim (Dokkhiner Ghor)
 * Panna Kayser (Kahini)
 * Masum Aziz (Ontore Nirontor)
 * Best TV Natok Director
 * Syedul Anam Tutul (Dokkiner Ghor)
 * Abul Hayat (Unmesh)
 * Sheikh Niyamat Ali (Vorer Kotha Mala)
 * Best TV Natok Actor - Male
 * Masud Ali Khan (Vorer Kotha Mala)
 * Shahiduzzaman Selim (Adhuli)
 * Jayanto Chattopadhyay (Dokkhiner Ghor)
 * Best TV Natok Actor - Female
 * Rokeya Prachi (Chor)
 * Tania Ahmed (Dokkhiner Ghor)
 * Natasha Hayat (Unmesh)
 * 2000


 * Best Movie Actor - Male
 * Manna (Abbajan)
 * Riaz
 * Ferdous
 * Best Movie Actor - Female
 * Shabnur (Mrittu Geet Shomriddho)
 * Poppy
 * Moushumi
 * Best Model - Female
 * Sadia Islam Mou (Apon Jewellers TVC)
 * Riya
 * Tarin
 * Best Model - Male
 * Nobel (TVC)
 * Pollob
 * Shahed
 * Best Magazine TV Show
 * Ityadi (Hanif Sanket)
 * Shubeccha
 * Aajkaal
 * Best TV Actor - Female
 * Shomy Kayser
 * Afsana Mimi
 * Bipasha Hayat
 * Best TV Actor - Male
 * Zahid Hasan
 * Azizul Hakim
 * Tauquir Ahmed
 * 2001
 * Best Singer - Male
 * Asif Akbar (O Priya Tumi Kothay)
 * Andrew Kishore (Poddo Patar Pani)
 * Jens Sumon (Ekta Chador Hobe)
 * Hasan (Taal)
 * Best Singer - Female
 * Kanak Chapa (Shagorer Moto Gobhir)
 * Kaniz Suborna (Bhalobashi Tomake)
 * Momtaz (Return Ticket)
 * Samina Chowdhury (Shaat Bhai Chompa)
 * Best Model - Male
 * Noble (Keya TVC)
 * James (Pepsi TVC)
 * Shimul (Berger TVC)
 * Shahed (Lubaba TVC)
 * Best Model - Female
 * Sadia Islam Mou (Keya Herbal TVC)
 * Aupee Karim (Lux TVC)
 * Purnima (Lux TVC)
 * Riya (Renus Jewellers TVC)
 * Best Movie Actor - Male
 * Riaz (Shoshurbari Zindabad)
 * Mahfuz (Dui Duari)
 * Manna (Abbajan)
 * Ferdous
 * Best Movie Actor - Female
 * Shabnur (Shoshrbari Zindabad)
 * Meher Afroze Shaon (Dui Duari)
 * Purnima
 * Moushumi
 * Best Band
 * LRB (Mon Chaile Mon Pabe)
 * Ark (Brihoshpoti)
 * Baul Nogor (Dushtu Cheler Dol)
 * Promithius (Shoreo Shoreya)
 * Best Magazine TV Show
 * Ittadi (Hanif Sanket)
 * Poriprekkhon
 * Bolte Chai
 * Shubheccha
 * Best TV Actor - Male
 * Zahid Hasan
 * Azizul Hakim
 * Afzal Hossain
 * Tauquir Ahmed
 * Best TV Actor - Female
 * Shomi Kayser
 * Tarin
 * Afsana Mimi
 * Bipasha Hayat

Public Choice Awards

 * Best Playback Male Singer
 * Best Playback Female Singer
 * Best TV Actor
 * Best TV Actress
 * Best Film Actor
 * Best Film Actress
 * Best Newcomer (Film and Television)
 * Best Musical Band
 * Best Male Model
 * Best Female Model

Special awards
Meril-Prothom Alo Lifetime Achievement Award since 2002


 * 1998
 * 1999 –
 * 2000 –
 * 2001 –
 * 2002 –
 * 2003 – Ahmed Rubel (Adhiar); Best Producer: Saidul Anam Tutul (Adhiar); and Best Playwright: Mustafa Manwar
 * 2004 –
 * 2005 – Best Dancer: Shibli Muhammad; and Best Singer: Monir Khan
 * 2006 – Best Cinematography (TV): Monirul Islam Masud; Best Cinematography (Film): Maqsudul Bari; Best Dancer: Munmun Ahmed; and Best Singer: Kumar Bishwajit (Drishti Bhora Brishti)
 * 2007 – Fazlur Rahman Babu (Swopnodanay); Best Dancer: Shamim Ara Nipa; and Best Singer: Bappa Mazumder (Din Bari Jay)
 * 2008 – Best Film: SA Haque Alik (Akash Chhoa Bhalobasa); Best Dancer: Sharmila Bandopadhay; and Best Singer: Deepto (Ekti Sorol Onko)
 * 2009 – Topu (Third Person Singular Number)
 * 2010 –
 * 2011 – A.T.M. Shamsuzzaman (Guerilla)
 * 2012 – Mamun (Ghetuputra Kamola) and Meghla (Uttarer Sur)
 * 2013 –
 * 2014 – Best Director: Wahid Anam (Chinno); Best Make-up Artist: Mohammad Faruq (Brihonnola)

Discontinued categories
Best TV Program


 * 1998 – Ittyadi
 * 1999 – Ittyadi
 * 2000 – Ittyadi
 * 2001 – Ittyadi
 * 2002 – Ittyadi
 * 2003 – Ittyadi
 * 2004 – Ittyadi
 * 2005 – Ittyadi

Most awards

 * Shabnur- 10 (10 Popular Best Film Actress)
 * Nusrat Imroz Tisha – 10 (6x Popular Best TV Actress, 1x Critics' Best Film Actress, 1x Critics' Best TV Actress, 2x Best Female Model)
 * Mosharraf Karim – 9 (6x Popular Best TV Actor, 3x Critics' Best TV Actor)
 * Riaz – 8 (5x Popular Best Film Actor, 3x Critics' Best Film Actor)
 * Zahid Hasan – 8 (8x Popular Best TV Actor)
 * Shakib Khan – 8 (7x Popular Best Film Actor, 1x Critics' Best Film Actor)

Most acting awards
Male: Female:
 * Mosharraf Karim – 9 (6x Popular Best TV Actor, 3x Critics' Best TV Actor)
 * Riaz – 8 (5x Popular Best Film Actor, 3x Critics' Best Film Actor)
 * Zahid Hasan – 8 (8x Popular Best TV Actor)
 * Shakib Khan – 8 (7x Popular Best Film Actor, 1x Critics' Best Film Actor)
 * Shabnur – 10 ( 10 Popular Best Film Actress)
 * Nusrat Imroz Tisha – 8 (6x Popular Best TV Actress, 1x Critics' Best Film Actress, 1x Critics' Best TV Actress)

Most music awards
Male: Female:
 * Asif Akbar – 6 (6x Best Male Singer)
 * Habib Wahid – 5 (5x Best Male Singer)
 * Nancy – 7 (7x Best Female Singer)
 * Kanak Chapa – 4 (4x Best Female Singer)

Most directing awards

 * Animesh Aich – 4 (4x Best TV Director)

Most film awards
Male: Female:
 * Riaz – 8 (5x Popular Best Film Actor, 3x Critics' Best Film Actor)
 * Shakib Khan – 8 (7x Popular Best Film Actor, 1x Critics' Best Film Actor)
 * Shabnur – 10 (10 Popular Best Film Actress)

Most TV awards
Male:
 * Mosharraf Karim – 9 (6x Popular Best TV Actor, 3x Critics' Best TV Actor)
 * Zahid Hasan – 8 (8x Popular Best TV Actor)

Female:
 * Nusrat Imroz Tisha – 7 (6x Popular Best TV Actress, 1x Critics' Best TV Actress)

Most modelling awards
Male: Female:
 * Adil Hossain Nobel – 6 (6x Best Male Model)
 * Sadia Islam Mou – 4 (4x Best Female Model)

Most nominations
Female:
 * Shabnur- 13 (for Best Popular Film Actress)

Awards ceremonies
The following is a listing of all Meril Prothom Alo Awards ceremonies since 1998.

Controversy
The awards have come under criticism from various sections of the society for being held during a time of national crisis. Ignoring public outcry on social networks, the organizers went ahead with the ceremony which was held at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in Dhaka on 26 April 2013, as the entire country mourned the demise of more than 1136 people in the collapse of a building at Savar.