After a hiatus of nearly 20 years, Bangladesh Television (BTV) has relaunched its iconic children’s talent competition show ‘Notun Kuri’.
The registration for ‘Notun Kuri’ 2025 officially began on Sunday at BTV’s Dhaka Centre, inaugurated by Md Mahfuj Alam, Adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, according to a BTV press release.
Applications will remain open until September 5, and interested participants can collect forms from BTV’s website.
The competition will be held across 19 regions in the country, beginning with primary selections, followed by divisional rounds. The final segment will take place at BTV’s Dhaka Centre from November 2 to 6.
Participants will compete in nine categories under two age groups: Group ‘Ka’ (6–10 years) and Group ‘Kha’ (11–15 years). The categories include acting, recitation, storytelling/comedy, general/classical dance, patriotic/modern songs, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Sangeet, folk songs, and Hamd-Naat. Contestants may participate in up to three categories.
Speaking at the inauguration, Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam said, “After a long hiatus, 'Notun Kuri' is returning. This programme, first initiated during President Ziaur Rahman’s time, was later discontinued due to political reasons under Sheikh Hasina’s government."
"We are bringing it back beyond politics, to inspire children and teenagers in practicing arts and culture, and to provide them a platform for national representation,” Adviser Mahfuj Alam said on Sunday.
Launched in 1976 under the production of Mustafa Monwar, Notun Kuri was last held in 2005. Over the decades, ‘Notun Kuri’ introduced audiences to a host of talented youngsters who went on to become household names. These include actors Tarana Halim, Rumana Rashid Ishita, Tarin Jahan, Meher Afroz Shaon, Nusrat Imroz Tisha, Zakia Bari Mamo, Tamalika Karmakar, Sabrin Saka Meem and Azad Rahman Shakil; singers such as Samina Chowdhury, Haimanti Rakshit Das and Mehbooba Mahnoor Chandni; and other cultural figures who went on to make their mark in film, television, theatre and music.
For many, the show, widely popular across the nation, was not just a competition but the first step towards lifelong artistic careers.
