Muhith, Pramanik among 14 named for Independence Award

Fourteen individuals and Bangladesh Navy have been named for Independence Award-2016 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the nation in their respective fields, says news agency UNB.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over the award to the nominees at a programme at the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium on 24 March, according to a PID press release.
The nominees under Independence and Liberation War category are: finance minister AMA Muhith, textiles and jute minister Emaj Uddin Pramanik, Moulvi Achmat Ali Khan (posthumous), squadron leader (retd) Badrul Alam, who played his role in forming Bangladesh Air Force after the Liberation War, Shahid Shah Abdul Mazid, who played the leading role in preventing the attack by Pakistan occupation force at Rajshahi Police Lines, M Abdul Ali (posthumous), then Mahkuma administrator of Rangamati who was killed in an attack by Pakistani military force in 1971, AKM Abdur Rauf, typographer of the constitution (posthumous), KM Shehabuddin, first head of Bangladesh's Delhi mission and Syed Hasan Imam for playing courageous role in cultural activities in support of the liberation war.

Besides, Rafiqul Islam (posthumous) and Abdus Salam have been nominated for the award in mother language category for playing a role in achieving recognition of 21 February as International Mother Language Day while Maqsudul Alam (posthumous) has been nominated in science and technology category for decoding the jute genome.

Renowned physician Mohammad Rafi Khan (MR Khan) has been named for the award in medical science category and singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya under cultural category.
Besides, Bangladesh Navy was nominated for its role in the liberation war and in protecting independence and sovereignty.