Winner of this year's SM Solaiman Memorial Award is social scientist Professor Anupam Sen. The award is given by Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF). Young theatre director Saidur Rahman is the winner of SM Solaiman Commemoration Scholarship. Theatre Art Unit provides the scholarship to encourage young theatre talents.

Professor Mostafa Nurul Islam was the chief guest while M Hamid, chairperson of BGTF, presided over the programme.

In his speech Professor Anupam Sen said, "Though I'm not directly involved with theatre, I'm honoured to receive a prestigious award given by BGTF in memoriam of a theatre exponent."

Recipient of this year's scholarship, Saidur Rahman Lipon said, "I was amazed by SM Solaiman's theatre activities. This scholarship is a major encouragement for me."

Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Jhuna Chowdhury and Rokeya Rafiq Baby were the other discussants at the event.

The speakers at the programme recalled SM Solaiman's philosophy, style and approach to theatre. According to them actor-director-playwright SM Solaiman introduced a new trend in Bangladeshi theatre. He wrote over 30 plays. His concern for fellow theatre activists as well as dedication for theatre made him a leader. He was the founder of several theatre troupes in the country such as Kalantar, Padatik Natya Sangsad, Dhaka Padatik, Anyadal and Theatre Art Unit. Moreover, he formed a theatre troupe in USA named Bangladesh Theatre of America, which staged shows in the Off-Broadway.

After the discussion, a play adapted by SM Solaiman titled Court Martial, was staged by Theatre Art Unit.

Through the court martial of a soldier, Solaiman's play satires the rehabilitation of the Pakistani collaborators after the Independence in 1971.