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Published : 20 Mar 2018, 11:37 AM
The Independence Day Award, also known as the Shadhinata Award or Shadhinata Padak, will be awarded to Cultural Affairs Minister Assaduzzaman Noor for his contribution to culture and to Channel i’s Shykh Seraj for his contributions to agricultural journalism, Cabinet Secretary Md Shafiul Alam told bdnews24.com on Tuesday.
The cabinet had previously issued a list of 16 names to receive the Independence Day Award this year. The list included former Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury and martyr Sgt Zahurul Haque.
Nilphamari-2 MP and former Liberation War fighter Asaduzzaman Noor is well known for his work as an actor and cultural activist. He was a popular figure on television and the stage throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Channel i Founder and Head of News Shykh Seraj has long created and produced television programmes on agricultural issues. His programme ‘Mati o Manush’ was extremely popular in the 1990s. The government previously awarded him the Ekushey Padak for his contributions to agricultural journalism.
Most of those named for this year’s Independence Day Award will receive the honour posthumously.
Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, who was the chief of the Bangladesh mission in Delhi during the Liberation War, is receiving the award for his contributions to the Liberation War and Bangladesh’s independence.
Martyred intellectual MMA Rashidul Hassan, Bangabandhu’s friend and former MP Shankar Gobinda Chowdhury, Liberation War Organiser and former MP M Abdur Rahim, Agartala Conspiracy case suspect Bhupati Bhusan Chowdhury (Manik Chowdhury) are all receiving the award posthumously.
Martyr Lt Md Anwarul Azim, Martyr Amanullah Mohammad Asaduzzaman, martyr Matiur Rahman Mallik, martyr Sgt Zahurul Haque and Kazi Zakir Hasan will also receive the award posthumously.
Former Air Force Chief Air Vice Marshall Sultan Mahmud and former diplomat Amzadul Haque will also receive the prize in the Liberation War and independence category.
Dr AK MD Ahsan Ali will be recognised for contributions to medical science, Prof AK Azad Khan for contributions to social service, Selina Hossain for literature, and Dr Md Abdul Mazid for Food Security.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will present the awards on Mar 25 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
The government has been distributing the award to commemorate Independence Day on Mar 26 since 1977.
Persons or institutions who are recognised for the award receive a 50g prize made of 18-carat gold, a replica of the prize, Tk 300,000 and a certificate.
The Independence Day Award is the highest civilian honour presented by the Bangladesh government.
