Prime Minister Tarique Rahman honored nine individuals and a music band by presenting them with the “Ekushey Padak-2026” for their exceptional achievements in various fields. The award ceremony, held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium this morning to commemorate Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day, saw the recipients receiving the Ekushey Padak, the second-highest civilian accolade in the country.
The distinguished awardees include Farida Akhtar Babita for her contributions to Film, Professor Md Abdus Sattar for Fine Arts, Marina Tabassum for Architecture, Ayub Bachchu for Music (Posthumous), Arthy Ahmed for Dance, Islam Uddin Palakar for Palagan, Shafik Rehman for Journalism, Professor Dr Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for Education, Tejosh Halder Josh for Sculpture, and the music band Warfaze.
The Prime Minister personally handed over the awards, with Ayub Bachchu’s wife Ferdous Akhter Chandana and Warfaze’s team leader Sheikh Monirul Alam receiving the accolades on their behalf. The event commenced at 10:53 am with the national anthem and a religious scripture reading as part of the ceremony organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury chaired the event, while Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani oversaw the award presentation and read out the citations of the recipients. State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam graced the occasion as a special guest, and Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Mofidur Rahman delivered the welcoming address.
The gathering included cabinet members, parliamentarians, diplomats, senior civil and military officials, and other esteemed guests.