Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the Ekushey Padak to nine distinguished citizens and one institution in recognition of their notable contributions in various fields.
He handed over the awards as chief guest at a ceremony held Thursday at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
The recipients are Farida Akhtar Babita (film), Professor Md Abdus Sattar (fine arts), Marina Tabassum (architecture), Ayub Bachchu (music), Warfaze (music band), Arthy Ahmed (dance), Islam Uddin Palakar (theatre), Shafik Rehman (journalism), Professor Mahbubul Alam Majumdar (education), and Tejosh Halder Josh (sculpture).
Among them, Ayub Bachchu received the award posthumously.
The Ekushey Padak is the country’s national and second-highest civilian award. It was introduced in 1976 by former president Ziaur Rahman.
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, BSS reported.
The premier arrived at the venue around 10:53am. The ceremony organised 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, BSS adds.
Cabinet members, members of parliaments, diplomats, senior civil and military officials and dignitaries were present at the function.
