Khaleda Zia, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury Among 15 Individuals and 5 Institutions to Receive Independence Award

The government has announced that 15 distinguished individuals and five institutions will receive the country’s Independence Award, the highest state honor, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national development and public service.

Among the recipients is former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who has been selected for her contribution to politics. The award also includes several eminent personalities from different fields such as science, literature, culture, sports, public administration, research, and social service.

The other recipients selected for the Independence Award this year include Major Mohammad Abdul Jalil (posthumous) for his contribution to the Liberation War; Professor Dr. Zahurul Karim for science and technology; Dr. Ashraf Siddiqui (posthumous) for literature; AKM Hanif (Hanif Sanket) and Bashir Ahmed (posthumous) for culture; Jobera Rahman (Linu) for sports; Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury (posthumous), Md. Saidul Haque and Maherin Chowdhury (posthumous) for social service and public welfare; Kazi Fazlur Rahman (posthumous) for public administration; Mohammad Abdul Baki, Professor Dr. M.A. Rahim, and Professor Dr. Sukomal Barua for research and training; and Abdul Mukit Majumder (Mukit Majumder Babu) for environmental conservation.

In addition to individuals, five institutions have also been selected for the prestigious award. These include Faujdarhat Cadet College for its role in the Liberation War, Dhaka Medical College Hospital for contributions to medical science, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) for its work in rural development, and SOS Children’s Villages International in Bangladesh along with Gonoshasthaya Kendra for their contributions to social service and public welfare.

The Independence Award is presented annually ahead of Independence Day on March 26 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the country. Recipients receive a gold medal, a certificate of honor, and a cash award as part of the state recognition.