Staff Reporter :
Fourteen distinguished personalities and institutions, including Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Bangladesh Navy (BN) received ‘Swadhinata, Padak 2016’, Bangladesh’s highest civilian honour.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the awards to the recipients for their contributions to the country’s independence and nation-building, at a ceremony held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday.
The each award carries a gold medal, Tk three lakh in cheque and a citation.
Syed Hasan Imam shared his feelings with the audience for receiving the award on behalf of the award recipients.
The BN was chosen for the award this year for its contribution to the Liberation War.
The naval force was formed in July 1971 and it
played an important role in warfare in riverine Bangladesh, especially the Operation Jackpot, which left 11 Pakistani ships sunk in Chittagong.
Bangladesh naval commandos sank 14 other ships in the Ports of Chandpur, Mongla and Narayanganj.
Navy Chief Vice Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed received the award, on behalf of the BN at a ceremony in the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
AMA Muhith severed ties with Pakistan when he was serving the Pakistan embassy in the US in 1971 and pledged allegiance to Bangladesh. He had actively garnered public opinion abroad for the state fighting for independence.
The 83-year old Muhith is a three times Finance Minister and he presented the budget nine times.
Late Scientist Maqsudul Alam, whose research in sequencing the DNA of the traditional variety of jute is widely recognised, has been given the award this year. Another Cabinet member, Md Emaz Uddin Pramanik got the award for his contributions during the 1971 Liberation War.
The Textiles and Jute Minister was an organiser during the war and actively worked in training camps for the freedom-fighters in India. Late Moulvi Achmat Ali Khan, a freedom-fighter, politician and philanthropist in Madaripur, was honoured for his contributions in 1971. His son Shajahan Khan is now the Shipping Minister.
Former Air Force Officer Badrul Alam Bir Uttam was honoured for his contributions in the 1971 war and later setting up the air force of the new-born nation.
Late Shah Abdul Majid, who was serving as the police chief in Rajshahi in 1971, has been given the award. He died while resisting the Pakistani forces, which attacked the Rajshahi Police Lines.For efforts to organise a resistance in 1971, M Abdul Ali was honoured with the award this year. Abdul Ali, the then Rangamati Administration Chief, was killed by the Pakistani forces during the nine-month war.
Cultural personality Syed Hasan Imam received the award for conducting cultural activities in support of the Liberation War. Tagore singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya got the award under the category of cultural activities.
Late AKM Abdur Rauf, who left Pakistan’s side to support Bangladesh while working in the then Pakistan High Commission in London during the war, has been also conferred with the honour.Late Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam have been honoured for the campaigns, which led February 21 being recognised as the International Mother Language Day.
Paediatric specialist Dr Mohammad Rafi Khan (MR Khan) received the award in medical science.
And in literature, Poet Nirmalendu Goon received the award from the Prime Minister for his contribution to literature.
Fourteen distinguished personalities and institutions, including Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Bangladesh Navy (BN) received ‘Swadhinata, Padak 2016’, Bangladesh’s highest civilian honour.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the awards to the recipients for their contributions to the country’s independence and nation-building, at a ceremony held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday.
The each award carries a gold medal, Tk three lakh in cheque and a citation.
Syed Hasan Imam shared his feelings with the audience for receiving the award on behalf of the award recipients.
The BN was chosen for the award this year for its contribution to the Liberation War.
The naval force was formed in July 1971 and it
played an important role in warfare in riverine Bangladesh, especially the Operation Jackpot, which left 11 Pakistani ships sunk in Chittagong.
Bangladesh naval commandos sank 14 other ships in the Ports of Chandpur, Mongla and Narayanganj.
Navy Chief Vice Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed received the award, on behalf of the BN at a ceremony in the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
AMA Muhith severed ties with Pakistan when he was serving the Pakistan embassy in the US in 1971 and pledged allegiance to Bangladesh. He had actively garnered public opinion abroad for the state fighting for independence.
The 83-year old Muhith is a three times Finance Minister and he presented the budget nine times.
Late Scientist Maqsudul Alam, whose research in sequencing the DNA of the traditional variety of jute is widely recognised, has been given the award this year. Another Cabinet member, Md Emaz Uddin Pramanik got the award for his contributions during the 1971 Liberation War.
The Textiles and Jute Minister was an organiser during the war and actively worked in training camps for the freedom-fighters in India. Late Moulvi Achmat Ali Khan, a freedom-fighter, politician and philanthropist in Madaripur, was honoured for his contributions in 1971. His son Shajahan Khan is now the Shipping Minister.
Former Air Force Officer Badrul Alam Bir Uttam was honoured for his contributions in the 1971 war and later setting up the air force of the new-born nation.
Late Shah Abdul Majid, who was serving as the police chief in Rajshahi in 1971, has been given the award. He died while resisting the Pakistani forces, which attacked the Rajshahi Police Lines.For efforts to organise a resistance in 1971, M Abdul Ali was honoured with the award this year. Abdul Ali, the then Rangamati Administration Chief, was killed by the Pakistani forces during the nine-month war.
Cultural personality Syed Hasan Imam received the award for conducting cultural activities in support of the Liberation War. Tagore singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya got the award under the category of cultural activities.
Late AKM Abdur Rauf, who left Pakistan’s side to support Bangladesh while working in the then Pakistan High Commission in London during the war, has been also conferred with the honour.Late Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam have been honoured for the campaigns, which led February 21 being recognised as the International Mother Language Day.
Paediatric specialist Dr Mohammad Rafi Khan (MR Khan) received the award in medical science.
And in literature, Poet Nirmalendu Goon received the award from the Prime Minister for his contribution to literature.
