DHAKA: Sixteen prominent personalities have been nominated for the Independence Award or Swadhanata Padak 2018 this year in recognition of their glorious and outstanding contribution at the national level.

Cabinet division disclosed the list of selected persons in a press release on Tuesday (February 20).

Ten of the 16 distinguished persons will be awarded posthumously. 

Former speaker Humayun Rashid Choudhury will be given the award posthumously for his contribution in the Independence and Liberation War. He was serving as chief of Bangladesh mission in Delhi during the time of 1971 liberation war.

Martyred intellectual MMA Rashidul Hasan, Bangabandhu’s companion Shankar Govinda Chowdhury, One of the major organizers of liberation war fomer lawmaker M Abdur Rahim and Agartala Conspiracy Case prime accused Bhupati Bhushan Chowdhury alias Manik Chowdhury will also get the award posthumously in Liberation War and impendence category.

Martyrs Lieutenant Anwarul Azim, Amanullah Md Asaduzzaman, Matiur Rahman Mallik and Amzadul Haque, Sergeant Zahurul Haq and Kazi Jakir Hassan will be also be given posthumous award in the same category.

Former Air Force chief Air vice Marshal Sultan Mahmud (Bir Uttom) and former diplomat Amzadul Haque are nominated for contributing in Independence and Liberation War.  

Moreover, four others are getting the Swadhinata Padak in other categories. 

Professor Dr AK MD Ahsan Ali nominated in medicine category, Professor AK Azad Khan in social service, Selina Hossain in literature and Dr Abdul Majid nominated for the award in Food security category. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the award to the awardees at Osmani Memorial auditorium in Dhaka on March 25.

BDST: 2030 HRS, FEB 20, 2018
AP