DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formally handed over prestigious ‘Ekushey Padak’ to 15 eminent persons of the country for their glorious contribution to their respective fields.

Ekushey Padak-2015 distribution ceremony was held at Osmani Memorial auditorium in city on Thursday.

The Ekushey Padak recipients are Piaru Sardar for Language Movement (posthumous), Professor M Mujibur Rahman Devdas for the War of Independence, Professor Dwijen Sharma for language and literature, Muhammad Nurul Huda for language and literature, Abdur Rahman Boyati for art and culture (posthumous), SA Abul Hayat for art and culture, ATM Shamsuzzaman for art and culture, Professor MA Mannan for education, Sanat Kumar Saha for education, Abul Kalam Mohammad Zakaria for research, Kamal Lohani for journalism, Faridur Reza Sagar for mass media, Jharna Dhara Chowdhury for social service, Srimat Satyapriyo Mohathero for social service and Professor Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury for social service.

The each Padak (award) carries a cheque of Tk 100,000, a crest and citation.

Cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the Padak distribution ceremony where cultural affairs secretary Dr Ranjit Kumar Biswas, cabinet secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hussain Bhuiyan among others was present.

BDST: 2024 HRS, FEB 19, 2015