Zaima Rahman, granddaughter of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, received the Independence Award on her behalf in recognition of her outstanding and distinguished contributions at the national level.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday. Zaima Rahman, daughter of Khaleda Zia’s elder son and BNP Chairman and Prime MinisterTarique Rahman, was present at the program to accept the honor on her behalf.
This year, the Independence Award was conferred on 15 distinguished individuals, including Khaleda Zia (posthumous), and five institutions.
Other recipients include Major Mohammad Abdul Jalil (posthumous) for his role in the Liberation War; former secretary and Director General of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Professor Zahurul Karim for science and technology; Ashraf Siddiqui (posthumous) for literature; renowned TV presenter Hanif Sanket (AKM Hanif) for culture; eminent singer Bashir Ahmed (posthumous); table tennis legend Zobera Rahman Linu for sports; Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury (posthumous), founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, and Md Saidul Haque for social service; Maherin Chowdhury (posthumous), a teacher killed in a warplane crash at Milestone School and College; Kazi Fazlur Rahman (posthumous) for public administration; Mohammad Abdul Baki, Professor MA Rahim and Professor Dr Sukomal Barua for research and training; and Abdul Muqit Majumder (Mukit Majumder Babu), chairman of Poribesh O Jibon Foundation and director of Channel i, for environmental conservation.
The five institutions honored are Faujdarhat Cadet College for contributions to the Liberation War; Dhaka Medical College Hospital for medicine; Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) for rural development; SOS Children’s Villages International in Bangladesh; and Gonoshasthaya Kendra for social service.
The Independence Award is given in recognition of contributions to independence and the Liberation War, as well as other fields. Introduced in 1977, it is awarded annually ahead of Independence Day. Each recipient receives Tk500,000, a 50-gram 18-carat gold medal, a replica of the medal, and a certificate of honor.
