DHAKA:  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed Ekushey Padak-2019 over to 21 eminent citizens and their representatives for their contribution to respective fields.

The second highest civilian award was given at a ceremony in city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Wednesday afternoon (February 20).

Sheikh Hasina said “It’s the responsibility of all to save our independence, the right to mother tongue and culture and give due honour to them who are being filled with the spirit of Ekushey.”

She also said we gained independence, mother language and our rich culture and heritage through a huge struggle. So, responsibility now falls to us to create a beautiful environment for the future generations to come

The awardees are: Late Prof Halima Khatun (posthumous), Advocate Golam Arif Tipu and Prof Monwara Islam for Language Movement; Subir Nandi, late Azam Khan (posthumous) and Khairul Anam Shakil for music; Lucky Inam, Suborna Mostafa and Liakat Ali Lucky for acting; Sayeda Khanam for arts; Jamal Uddin Ahmed for fine arts; Khitindra Chandra Bioshya for Liberation War; Dr Biswajit Ghosh and Dr Mahbubul Haque for research; Dr Pronab Kumar Barua for education; and Rizia Rahman, Imdadul Haque Milon, Asim Saha, Anwara Syed Haque, Mainul Ahsan Saber and Hori Shankor Joldas for language and literature.

The ‘Ekushey Award’ is given in commemoration of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952.

The award was first given in 1976. Since then, distinguished personalities are honored with this prestigious award for contribution to various fields.  

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid chaired the function organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Cabinet members, the PM’s advisors, judges, parliament members, foreign diplomats, litterateurs, poets, academics, writers, poets, journalists, Ekushey Award laureates of previous years and high civil and military officials attended the function.

BDST: 1950 HRS, FEB 20, 2019

AH/SMS