The 13-year-old Tariqul, who was also awarded fourth prize in the "beautiful voice" category, walked away with the first prize of Dh250,000 (around Tk55 lakh).

A Bangladeshi boy, Mohammad Tariqul Islam, won the top prize from among 103 participants at the 21st Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) held in Dubai on Thursday.

Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and Public Security Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured Tariqul and the other winners of the annual competition at a ceremony held at Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association auditorium in Al Mamzar, reported Gulf News, a Dubai-based English daily.

The 13-year-old Tariqul, who was also awarded fourth prize in the “beautiful voice” category, walked away with the first prize of Dh250,000 (around Tk55 lakh).

Tariqul performed on the ninth night of the annual Quran competition, leaving the packed auditorium captivated with his powerful and mellifluous recitations from the passages of the Quran.

Having topped several national competitions in Bangladesh, he justified his tag as this year’s favourite.

The ceremony also saw Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud honoured with the Islamic Personality of the Year award.

King Salman of Saudia Arabia was honoured as well with the Islamic Personality of the Year award.

Minister of Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Shaikh Saleh Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh received the award on behalf of King Salman.