Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially conferred the Swadhinata Puruskar-2026 (Independence Award) upon 15 distinguished individuals and five organizations in recognition of their glorious and outstanding contributions to the nation. The ceremony took place on Thursday afternoon at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
The event’s most poignant moment occurred when Zaima Rahman, the granddaughter of the late former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, stepped onto the stage to accept the posthumous award on behalf of her grandmother. Khaleda Zia was honored for her comprehensive contributions to independence, democracy, women’s education, and nation-building.
Posthumous Honors
Khaleda Zia was among seven individuals recognized posthumously this year. The other recipients included:
- Major Mohammad Abdul Jalil (Liberation War) – Accepted by daughter Sara Jalil.
- Dr. Ashraf Siddiqui (Literature) – Accepted by daughter Tasnim Arifa Siddiqui.
- Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury (Social Service) – Accepted by son Barish Hasan Chowdhury.
- Maherin Chowdhury (Social Service) – Accepted by husband Mansur Helal.
- Bashir Ahmed (Culture) – Accepted by daughter Humayra Bashir.
- Kazi Fazlur Rahman (Public Administration) – Accepted by daughter Tabasum Shahnaj.
Individual and Institutional Excellence
The Prime Minister also handed over medals to several living legends and institutional representatives:
- Science & Technology: Professor Johurul Karim (Accepted by son Harunur Rashid).
- Culture: AKM Hanif (Hanif Sanket).
- Sports: Joabera Rahman Linu.
- Social Service: Saidul Huq.
- Research & Training: Mohammad Abdul Baki, Professor MA Rahim, and Professor Sukomal Barua.
- Environmental Conservation: Abdul Mukit Majumdar (Mukit Majumdar Babu).
In the institutional category, the awards were presented to Faujdarhat Cadet College (Liberation War), Dhaka Medical College Hospital (Medical Science), Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (Rural Development), SOS Children’s Village, and Gonoshasthaya Kendra (Public Service).
National Recognition
As the highest civilian award in Bangladesh, the Swadhinata Puruskar has been granted annually since 1977. Each recipient was honored with an 18-carat 50-gram gold medal, a replica, a certificate of honor, and three lakh BDT.
The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including the Prime Minister’s spouse Zubaida Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s sister Selima Islam, and high-ranking officials such as Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman. The proceedings were conducted by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani.
