DUBAI: Bangladeshi Hafezul Quran Mohammad Amdadulla Tajul Islam became sixth among the top 10 places at the ‘Most Beautiful Recitation Contest’ category of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (Dihqa) on Friday.

Sulaiman Abdulkarim Isah of Nigeria won the top position in the international Quran completion category of the Award pushing Omar Hussain Baeisa of Saudi Arab and Mohammed Khaled Yaseen of Yemen to the second and third spots respectively.

The other top eight winners are Abdulaziz Abdulla Alhamri of Qatar, Abdul Rahman Alshuwaie of Kuwait, Anis Ali Al Fadel of Libya, Salem El Emjad of Mauritania, Mohammed Arif of USA and Abdulrahman Abdulla Hasan of Bahrain.

The concluding ceremony of the 18th session of the Dihqa took place at the Cultural and Scientific Association in Mamzar on Friday night. This year 89 contestants of different countries took part in the competition.

Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirate and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb, the Grand Mufti of Al Azhar institution were present at the function.

A number of Sheikhs, ministers, senior officials, dignitaries and thousands of expatriates including Bangladeshi attended the event.

Recitation contestants were divided into five categories: Buds (below 15 years), Youngsters (15-25 years), Youth (above 26 years), Mosques Imams, Most beautiful Adhan (Call to Prayer). 

The first winner was awarded Dh250,000, the second Dh200,000 and the third Dh150,000. The person who comes fourth got Dh65,000 and those come in the next six positions received Dh5,000 less than the person above him. The rest of the participants will get Dh30,000 each..

BDST: 0935 HRS, JULY 19, 2014