Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday handed over the country's second-highest civilian award, the Ekushey Padak, to nine distinguished individuals and one organisation in recognition of their outstanding contributions in fields including education, journalism, film and music.
The awards were presented at a ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday morning on the occasion of the Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day.
The award recipients are: Farida Akhtar Babita (Film), Professor Md Abdus Sattar (Fine Arts), Marina Tabassum (Architecture), Ayub Bachchu (Music) (Posthumous), Arthy Ahmed (Dance), Islam Uddin Palakar (Palagan), Shafik Rehman (Journalism), Professor Dr Mahbubul Alam Majumdar (Education), Tejosh Haldar Josh (Sculpture), and Warfaze (Music Band).
On behalf of Ayub Bachchu, his wife Ferdous Akhter Chandana and on behalf of Warfaze, its team leader Sheikh Monirul Alam received the award from the Prime Minister.
Earlier, the premier arrived at the venue around 10:53am. The ceremony organized by the Cultural Affairs Ministry began with singing the national anthem and recitation of religious scripts.
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury presided over the function while Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani conducted the award giving ceremony and read out the citation of the awardees.
State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam spoke as the special guest while Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Mofidur Rahman delivered the welcome speech at the function.
Cabinet members, members of parliaments, diplomats, senior civil and military officials and dignitaries were present at the function.
