Three rice scientists among 24 winners of Ekushey Padak

Bangladesh has awarded the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in the country, to 24 recipients, including three scientists from the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.

BRRI researchers Dr Md Enamul Hoque, Dr Shahanaz Sultana and Dr Jannatul Ferdous were recognised for their contributions to innovations in the development of high-yielding rice varieties.

The list of 24 Ekushey Padak winners was announced in a notice from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs on Thursday.

Among the awardees, five received the award posthumously.

The winners of the award will get a gold medal weighing 35 grams, Tk 400,000 and a certificate.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will present the awards at an event on Feb 20.

The full list of winners are listed below according to category.

No.	Category	Ekushey Padak Recipient
1	Language Movement (posthumous)	MA Matin
2	Language Movement (posthumous)	Mirza Tofazzal Hossain Mukul
3	Liberation War (posthumous)	Syed Moazzem Ali
4	Liberation War	Alhaj Md Matiur Rahman
5	Liberation War	Amjad Ali Khandaker
6	Liberation War	QABM Rahman
7	Research	Dr MA Sattar Mandal
8	Research	Dr Md Anamul Haque (team) (team leader)
9	Research	Dr Shahanaz Sultana (team)
10	Research	Dr Jannatul Ferdous (team)
11	Dance	Zinnat Barkatullah
12	Music	Nazrul Islam Babu
13	Music	Iqbal Ahmed
14	Music	Mahmudur Rahman Benu
15	Acting (posthumous)	Khaled Mahmud Khan
16	Acting	Afzal Hossain
17	Acting	Masum Aziz
18	Journalism	MA Malek
19	Language and Literature	Kamal Chowdhury
20	Language and Literature	Jharna Das Purkayastha
21	Science and Technology	Md Anwar Hossain
22	Education	Prof Dr Gautam Buddha Das
23	Social Service	SM Abraham Lincoln
24	Social Service	Sangharaj Gyanshree Mahather