Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed Ekushey Padak this year among 19 prominent personalities and two organisations for their contributions in different sectors of the country. The premier handed over the awards to the recipients ahead of February 21, the International Mother Language Day 2023.
At a function organised at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital today, the prime minister along with other ministers and dignitaries of the country, presented these awards to the country’s eminent personalities and organisations.
Earlier, the government declared the names of the finally chosen persons and organisations for the coveted state award.
This year, a total of three persons in the language movement category, one in the liberation war category, eight in acting, singing, reciting, art and craft, two in politics, two in teaching, two in social services, and one each in journalism, research, language, and literature received the prestigious award from the head of the government.
The winning personalities and organisations who received the awards are:
- Language Movement – A. K. M. Shamsul Hoque (posthumously)
- Language Movement – Khaleda Manzur-e Khuda
- Language Movement – Haji Mohammad Majibur Rahman
- Shilpakala (acting) – Masud Ali Khan
- Shilpakala (acting) – Shimul Yusuf
- Shilpakala (music) – Monoranjan Ghoshal
- Shilpakala (music) – Gazi Abdul Hakim (posthumously)
- Shilpakala (music) – Fazal-e-Khuda
- Shilpakala (recitation) – Jayanto Chattopadhyay
- Shilpakala – Nawazish Ali Khan
- Shilpakala (painting) – Kanak Chanpa Chakma
- Liberation War – Momtaz Uddin (posthumously)
- Journalism – Md Shah Alamgir (posthumously)
- Education – Professor Dr Mazharul Islam (posthumously)
- Language and literature – Dr. Maniruzzaman
- Research – Dr. Md Abdul Majid
- Social service – Md Saidul Haque
- Politics – Akhter Uddin Mia (posthumously)
- Politics – Advocate Manjurul Imam (posthumously)
- Education – Bangladesh National Museum
- Social service – Bidyanondo Foundation
The government delivers the Ekushey Padak, the second greatest national award, in remembrance of the martyrs of the language movement every year. The awarded individuals and organisations receive gold medals, certificates, and cash amounts from the government.
Last year, 24 personalities got this recognition because of their extraordinary contributions in different sectors. From 1976 to 2022, a total of 543 personalities and 4 organisations received the Ekushey Padak.