Prime Minister hands over Ekushey Padak

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday handed over Ekushey Padak-2018 to 21 eminent personalities in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.

The premier formally presented the award to the recipients through a ceremony held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

Each awardee receives a gold medal, a certificate of honour and a cash amount. The amount of the cash prize is Tk 2,00,000.

Earlier on February 8, 2018, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs announced the names nominated for the award.

The recipients' are- AJM Takiullah (posthumous) and Professor Mirza Mazharul Islam in language movement, Sheikh Sadi Khan, Sujeyo Shyam, Indra Mohan Rajbangshi, Md Khurshid Alam and Matiul Haque Khan in music, Begum Minu Haque (Minu Billah) in dance, Humayun Faridi (posthumous) in acting, Nikhil Sen in drama, Kalidas Karmakar in fine arts, Golam Mustafa in photography, Ranesh Moitro in journalism, Language Veteran Professor Zulekha Haque (posthumous) in research, Dr Mainul Islam in economics, Ilias Kanchan in social service, Syed Manjurul Islam, Saiful Islam Khan (poet Hayat Saif), Subrata Barua, Rabiul Hussain and Khalekdad Chowdhury (posthumous) in language and literature.

The Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award of the country introduced in 1976 in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952, is given every year to individuals and organizations for their outstanding contribution to various fields.


risingbd/Dhaka/Feb 20, 2018/N A/Nasim/Amirul