New Nation’s Chief Photojournalist gets APA awards

Staff Reporter :

Season Media Private Limited has honoured 29 distinguished personalities, including 7 foreigners, with the prestigious Asian Professional Achievement Awards (APA) 2025 in recognition of their contributions to various professional fields and social impact.

The grand award giving event was held on Monday at The Plaza Hotel, Pulchak, Lalitpur, Nepal where the chief guests were former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar, who jointly presented the awards. Notably, seven international professionals were recognised for their achievements.

Among them were Moinuddin Ahmed, chief photojournalist of The New Nation, currently the oldest English daily in Bangladesh; Mashiur Rahman Suman, Managing Director, Hotel Imperial International, Bangladesh; Chen Huan, president of Gaokeng County Photographers Association, Shandong, China; Manimaran A.L. Supiya, founder of Proness (Promotional Association of Global Networking), Malaysia; Phuntsho Dendup, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment, Bhutan; and Khushi Karki, Winner of Mero Dance Season 1, Thailand.

At the event, Balkrishna Shrestha, chairman of Hama Iron and Steel Industries Private Limited received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Chiribabu Maharajan, mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City; Rajendra Malla, chairman of Prabhu Insurance Company; Dr. Vasantha Pant, renowned neurosurgeon; Jyotsna Shrestha, vice president of FNCCI; and Manoj Gyawali, CEO of Nabil Bank.
Similarly, Sushant Karmacharya, hydropower promoter and chairman of Madam Khola Hydropower Limited; Santosh Prasai, CEO of Prabhu Mahalakshmi Life Insurance Limited; and Milan Malla, executive director of Morang Auto Works, were also honoured.

In the media and arts sector, the honourees included Sushil Arial, editor-in-chief of Newspolar.com; Shivani Thapa Basnyat, senior journalist and television presenter of Nepal Television; Kamala Giri, managing director of White Coral Spa Academy; and popular singer-composer Shiv Pariyar.

Sher Bahadur KC, under-secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration; Delhiraj Pangeni, co-founder and CEO of Blue Chip Securities; Khilendra Paudel, deputy CEO of IME Life Insurance; Lakshmi Thakur, chairperson of Lakshmi Hair and Beauty Academy; Sukhdev Karki, founder and president of Nepal Youth Fitness and Calisthenics; Actress and Producer Keki Adhikari; Manoj Paudel, chairperson of FNCCI’s Investment and International Affairs Forum; Simanta Shrestha, Cabin Crew Manager, Himalaya Airlines; and Suresh Rijal, CEO, Omway Technology.

Speaking at the event, Season Media Chairman Pradeep Raj Bhandari said that the aim of the award is to honour individuals whose professional excellence and social contributions inspire others in Nepal and abroad.