The government has announced the names of 19 eminent citizens and two institutions for awarding the prestigious Ekushey Padak-2023, the country's second highest civilian award, for their contribution to various fields.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry disclosed the names of the recipients in a press release on Sunday.
The release said 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, 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 receive 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.
In 2022, some 24 eminent personalities were given the prestigious Ekushey Padak.
