PM to distribute Ekushey Padak-2023 today

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the ‘Ekushey Padak-2023’ to 19 eminent individuals and two organizations today (February 20) on the occasion of the Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day.

The Head of the Government will hand over the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, at a programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 11 am.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion of awarding the Ekushey Padak.

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 have been named for the award in the Language Movement category.

Masud Ali Khan and Shimul Yusuf will receive 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) will get 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 will get 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.

In 2022, 24 eminent personalities were given the prestigious Ekushey Padak.