Two Bangladeshis Take Top Prizes at Quran Competition in Qatar

Two Bangladeshi Hafez(s) have placed the first in Qatar's National Quran Competition in two categories. A young Bangladeshi boy, named Usama and a girl, named Ayesha brought such a rare honor to the country in the national Quran competition officially organized in Qatar in the name of Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani, the founder of modern Qatar.

There were three categories in this year's Quran competition. Among them, two Bangladeshi Hafez(s) have secured first place in the two categories reserved for foreigners. Another Bangladeshi girl has also achieved fifth place in a category of the competition. 

Qatar's most prestigious competition does not have a separate age group for men and women. As a result, Hafez women and men of different ages from Arab and non-Arab countries living in Qatar have taken part in these two categories. Leaving everyone behind, these two Bangladeshi Hafez won first place in the two categories reserved for foreigners.

Qatar's Minister of Religion and dignitaries were present at the prize distribution ceremony of the competition. Minister of Religion Ghanim Shaheen Al-Ghanim highly praised the skills of Bangladeshis in reciting the Holy Quran. The news of winning first place in both the category has created a festive atmosphere among the Bangladeshis living in Qatar.

Qatar's Ministry of Religion hosted the 27th edition of the competition in the first week of Ramadan. The competition is held in three stages throughout the week at the country's national mosque. The winners were then announced at a glittering ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha, the capital. Minister of Religion Ghanim handed over the certificates and money to the winners.

According to the organizing committee, about one and a half thousand contestants took part in this year's competition. A total of 1.2 million Qatari riyals were awarded to the winners.

Usama Chowdhury

The first-place winning Bangladeshi teenager Usama Chowdhury is 14 years old. He is from Khadimpara of Shahparan police station in Sylhet district. His father Maulana Shihabuddin died in Qatar three years ago. There he worked as an imam. Osama is currently in ninth grade at a school in Qatar. Being the first in the competition, Osama got one lakh Qatari Riyals.

Ayesha, the Bangladeshi girl who won first place in another category of the competition, Her home is from Azim Nagar union of Bhanga Upazila of Faridpur district. Her father's name is Umar Farooq. Ayesha's sister Aziza also secured fifth place in another category of the competition. Ayesha got one lakh Qatari riyals and Aziza got fifty thousand Qatari riyals. On their behalf, Father Omar Farooq received the award from the Minister of Religion of Qatar.