Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged the people to promote the dedicated souls who are selflessly serving society in different parts of Bangladesh.
“I would like to request you to try to find out such dedicated persons in every place who are not in limelight and do not have any publicity or campaign,” she said appreciating the sacrifice of Ekushey Padak-2024 winner curd seller Ziaul Haque, a dedicated man from Chapainawabganj.
The premier said this after conferring the "Ekushey Padak 2024" to 21 eminent personalities for their outstanding contributions in various fields.
She handed over the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian award, at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
The prime minister said Ziaul Haque dedicated his life to spreading the light of knowledge among those who could not acquire education.
Pointing to the elites in the society, she said: “It is the responsibility for us who are in the upper level of the society to find out the persons who are making such great sacrifices.”
The premier greeted the award recipients and appreciated their dedication to society.
Ziaul received Ekushey Padak-2024 for social service as he dedicated his entire life to creating a public library and free book distribution among insolvent students with the little bit of profit he made from selling curd.
Despite being a brilliant student, he had to struggle in life due to financial insolvency instead of going to school. The great man started shouldering the responsibility of poor students and distributing of free books among insolvent students, creating a family library first (in 1969) and then a public library titled “Ziaul Haque Common Library.”
Sheikh Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said she would arrange a permanent land and building for the public library developed by Ziaul as he demanded while receiving the Ekushey Padak.
Besides, she said the government would make a move to nationalize the school established by him, if he wants.
Referring to the history of Bangladesh, the premier said her government has successfully freed the nation from the distortion of history after coming to power in 1996.
“I believe that we have at least been able to free the people from the distorted history after Awami League came to power in 1996. Today the people have known the real history of the Language Movement and the Liberation War,” she said.
Talking about the role of Bangabandhu in the Language Movement, Sheikh Hasina said, unfortunately, there was an attempt to erase the contribution of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to the Language Movement from history.
She said Bangabandhu had been in jail for waging the Language Movement. “Why was he in jail (at that time) if he had no contribution?” she asked.
The prime minister said her government restored the glorious image of Bangladesh, which had been lost during the 1975-1996 period.
“We have to march forward upholding this image in future… We will move in the global stage upholding dignity and keeping our heads high, she said.
The Cultural Affairs Ministry organized the event on Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day-2024.
Among the award recipients, Ashraf Uddin Ahmed (Posthumous) and freedom fighter Hatem Ali Mia (Posthumous) were honoured with this award for their roles in the Language Movement.
Besides, Jalal Uddin Kha, (Posthumous) freedom fighter Kalyani Ghosh, Bidit Lal Das (Posthumous), Andrew Kishore (Posthumous) and Subhro Deb, were recognized for their contributions to music while Shibli Mohammad, Dolly Zahur and MA Alamgir for performing dance and acting, respectively.
Popular elocutionists Shimul Mustapha and Rupa Chakraborty were also conferred the Ekushey Padak.
Shahjahan Ahmed Bikash and Kawsar Chowdhury were awarded for their contribution in painting and documentary films related to the Liberation War.
Md Ziaul Haque and Rafiq Ahmed were given the award for social services.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Samad, Lutfur Rahman Riton, Minar Mansur and Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah received the award for contributing to language and literature, while Jinabodhi Bhikkhu for his contribution in education.
Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain conducted the function and read out the citations of the award recipients in the award-giving ceremony chaired by Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed.