BAU trio nominated for Independence Award 2026

Two retired professors and a former student of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have been nominated for the Independence Award 2026 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to science, research and training.

Professor Dr Zahurul Karim, Professor Dr M A Rahim and former BAU student Dr Mohammad Abdul Baki are among the nominees for the country’s highest civilian honour.

According to a press release issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday, a total of 15 distinguished individuals and five institutions have been nominated for the Independence Award this year for their remarkable contributions in different fields. Among the nominees is former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

The awards will be presented in recognition of contributions to sectors such as the independence and Liberation War, science and technology, research and training, literature, culture, social service, medicine, public administration and environmental conservation.

Dr Zahurul Karim has been nominated for his contributions to science and technology. A former professor at BAU, he previously served as a scientist at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and the Atomic Energy Centre in Dhaka.

He later served as director general of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and subsequently as executive chairman of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), the apex body of the country’s national agricultural research system. He is currently the president of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences.

Professor Dr M A Rahim, another BAU nominee, served as a professor in the Department of Horticulture under the Faculty of Agriculture at the university. He later worked as chief executive and principal researcher at the BAU Germplasm Centre and is currently head of the Department of Agricultural Science at Daffodil International University.

Dr Mohammad Abdul Baki, a former student of BAU’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology, has been nominated for his contributions to research and training. He previously served as director general of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and also worked as chief scientific officer at the Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division.

Introduced in 1977, the Independence Award is the highest state civilian honour in Bangladesh and is awarded to individuals and institutions for their significant contributions to the nation.

MA/SH