Every year, the Ekushey Padak arrives not merely as a list of names, but as a quiet reminder of the lives, labors and legacies that have shaped Bangladesh’s cultural imagination.
In 2026, the country’s second-highest civilian honor finds its recipients across cinema halls and concert stages, classrooms and newsrooms -- a constellation of artists and thinkers whose work has left an indelible mark.
The government on Thursday announced the names of nine individuals and one institution who will receive the Ekushey Padak this year, recognizing contributions to film, music, journalism, education, fine arts and more.
The announcement was confirmed by Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam at a briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium in Dhaka on February 5.
Among the most emotionally resonant names on the list is legendary musician Ayub Bachchu, founder of iconic rock band LRB, who will be honored posthumously.
Bachchu’s guitar riffs and soul-baring lyrics helped define modern Bangladeshi rock, giving a generation its language of rebellion and romance.
His recognition feels less like an award and more like a long-overdue bow from the nation.
Cinema, too, takes centre stage with the inclusion of Farida Akhter Babita -- a name synonymous with grace, strength and the golden era of Bangladeshi film.
From arthouse classics to mainstream triumphs, Babita’s career stands as a testament to enduring star power shaped by craft rather than spectacle.
In journalism, senior journalist Shafiq Rehman is being recognized for decades of intellectual engagement and editorial influence.
Architecture and visual culture find representation through internationally acclaimed architect Marina Tabassum and sculptor Tejas Halder Jash, while Professor Dr Mohammad Abdus Sattar is recognized for his contributions to fine arts.
Folk culture exponent Islam Uddin Palakar, educator Professor Mahbubul Alam Majumder and dancer Arthi Ahmed complete a list that spans tradition and modernity.
Adding a collective note to the honors is Warfaze, the pioneering heavy metal band that receives the Ekushey Padak in the group music category.
For a genre long pushed to the margins, the recognition signals a broader acceptance of alternative musical expressions within the national narrative.
