Government honours 18 personalities with Independence Award

Bangladesh has honoured 18 prominent personalities, including late speaker Humayun Rashid Choudhury and Sergeant Zahurul Haq, with the highest state award -- the Swadhinata Padak or Independence Award.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the trophies to them at Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium on Sunday.

The posthumous award recognises Humayun Rashid Choudhury’s contribution to the struggle for liberation. He headed the Bangladesh Mission in Delhi during the War of Liberation in 1971.

Martyred intellectual MMA Rashidul Hasan, Bangabandhu’s companion late Shankar Govinda Chowdhury, late MP M Abdur Rahim and late Bhupati Bhushan Chowdhury alias Manik Chowdhury are the posthumous winners in the Independence and Liberation War category.     

Posthumous awards were bestowed on late martyrs, Lieutenant Md Anwarul Azim, Amanullah Md Asaduzzaman, Matiur Rahman Mallik, sergeants Zahurul Haq and Kazi Jakir Hasan, former Air Vice Marshall Sultan Mahmud Bir Uttam and former diplomat Amzadul Haque.

Prof Dr AKMD Ahsan Ali received the award for his contributions to medical science, Prof AK Azad Khan in social service, writer Selina Hossain in literature and M Abdul Mazid in food security.

Cultural Affairs Minister Assaduzzaman Noor and Channel-i Director Shykh Seraj received the honour in culture affairs and agricultural journalism categories respectively.

Since 1977, Bangladesh has honoured individuals and institutions with the award every year ahead of Independence Day on Mar 26.

The awardees receive a gold medal, a certificate and Tk 300,000.