C T Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Feb 20) handed over the “Ekushey Padak 2023” to 19 eminent individuals and two organizations on Monday on the occasion of Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day.
The Head of the Government handed over the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, at a programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital around 11:30 am.
On February 12, the government announced the names of 19 eminent citizens and two organizations for the “Ekushey Padak-2023” for their outstanding contributions in respective fields.
This year three persons got the award in the Language Movement category, one in the Liberation War, eight in Shilpakala (acting, music, recitation, arts and painting), two in politics, one person and one institution in education, one person and one institution in social service and one each in journalism, research, and language and literature.
Khaleda Manzur-e Khuda, heroic freedom fighter AKM Shamsul Haque (posthumously) and Haji Mohammad Majibur Rahman received the award in the Language Movement category.
Masud Ali Khan and Shimul Yusuf received the award in the category of Shilpakala (acting) while Monoranjan Ghoshal, Gazi Abdul Hakim and Fazal-e-Khuda (posthumously) have been named for the award in the category of Shilpakala (music), Jayanto Chattopadhyay in Shilpakala (recitation) category, Nawazish Ali Khan for Shilpakala, and Kanak Chanpa Chakma for Shilpakala (painting).
Momtaz Uddin (posthumously) received the award in the Liberation War category, Md Shah Alamgir (posthumously) in journalism, Dr Md Abdul Majid in research, Professor Dr Mazharul Islam (posthumously) in education, Saidul Haque in social service, Advocate Manjurul Islam (posthumously) and Akhter Uddin Mia (posthumously) in politics, and Dr Maniruzzaman in language and literature.
Bangladesh National Museum got the award in the category of education while Bidyanondo Foundation in social service.
The ‘Ekushey Padak’ was introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952.
The cultural affairs ministry confers the award with a gold medal, a certificate of honour and cash.
