The Independence Day Award , also termed Independence Award , is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...

. Introduced in 1977, this award is bestowed upon Bangladeshi citizens or organizations in recognition of substantial contribution to one of many fields, including the War of Liberation

Bangladesh Liberation War

The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....

, the language movement, education, literature, journalism, public service, science and technology, medical science, social science, song, games and sports, fine arts, rural development, and other areas.
Each awardee receives a gold medal, a certificate of honour, and a sum of cash. The amount of the cash reward was originally taka

Bangladeshi taka

The Taka is the currency of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of the country controls the issuance of the currency except one taka and two taka notes, which are the responsibility of Ministry of Finance of the government of Bangladesh...

 20 thousand, but was subsequently increased to taka one lac (.10 million in Bangladeshi currency) in 2004. A cabinet committee on national awards prepares the list of each year's nominees and forwards the list to the head of the government for final approval. The award is traditionally presented on the eve of Independence day

Bangladeshi Independence Day

March 26 is the National Day of Bangladesh.This day is celebrated as the Independence Day in Bangladesh. This commemorates the declaration of independence, and the start of Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971...

 in Bangladesh at a much publicized ceremony attended by several cabinet and parliament members and distinguished society guests.

In 2006, the award generated some controversy as the initial list was not accepted by the Prime Minister. Furthermore, the award to the Rapid Action Battalion

Rapid Action Battalion

Rapid Action Battalion or RAB is an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of Bangladesh Police constituted amending the Armed Police Battalion Ordinance, 1979. Under the command of Inspector General of Police it consists of members of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,...

 was criticized by many because of RAB's alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings.

List of awardees

The following people have received the Independence Day Award since its inception.

1977

In the year 1977, the first year of the award, 10 individuals were awarded in recognition of their contribution:

• Mawlana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani
  Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani
  Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani was a popular political leader in Pakistan and Bangladesh, a rural based self-educated person.Abdu Hamid Khan Bhashani, born in 1880 in Dhangara, Bangladesh), was the son of Haji Sharafat Ali Khan. He gained immense popularity among peasants...
  
   (Social work; posthumous)
• Kazi Nazrul Islam
  Kazi Nazrul Islam
  Kazi Nazrul Islam , sobriquet Bidrohi Kobi, was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi...
  
   (Literature; posthumous)
• Dr. Mokarram Hussain Khundker
  Mokarram Hussain Khundker
  Mokarram Hussain Khundker was a famous Professor of Chemistry of University of Dhaka. The University holds a Memorial Lecture every year named as Khundker Memorial Lecture, to perpetuate the memory of the late Professor. The university also hosts a research chair in memory of this renowned faculty...
  
   (Science and technology; posthumous)
• Zainul Abedin
  Zainul Abedin
  Zainul Abedin was nitially a painter of India and became famous in 1944 with his Famine Series paintings of 1943; and after partition he moved to Pakistan; and finally when Bangladesh was created in 1971, he was rightly considered the founding father of Bangladeshi Art...
  
   (Arts; posthumous)
• Mahbub Alam Chashi
  Mahbub Alam Chashi
  Mahbub Alam Chashi was a renowned public official and social worker from Bangladesh. He pioneered the Swanirvar Movement, a 'basic need' centred approach to rural upliftment and community development, which attempted to include various groups within the village structure in Bangladesh. Chashi...
  
   (Rural Development
  Rural Development
  USDA Office of Rural Development is an agency with the United States Department of Agriculture which runs programs intended to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America....
  
  )
• Brig. Mahmudur Rahman Choudhury
  Mahmudur Rahman Choudhury
  Mahmudur Rahman Choudhury , more commonly known as Major General MR Choudhury, was a medical scientist and physician from Bangladesh who was the Founder Commandant of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Transfusion . The Government of Bangladesh awarded him the Independence Day Award, the...
  
   (Medical Science)
• Dr. Md. Zafrullah Chowdhury
  Zafrullah Chowdhury
  Zafrullah Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi public health activist. He is the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra , a rural healthcare organization. Dr...
  
   (Population Control)
• Begum Runa Laila
  Runa Laila
  Runa Laila is a singer of the Indian subcontinent who is from Bangladesh. She started her career from Pakistan film industry and is effective in Ghazals also. She made a hit pair with famous singer Ahmed Rushdi after replacing Mala. She also has done numerous playbacks for movies in Bangladesh,...
  
   (Music)
• Habildar Mostak Ahmad (Sports)
• Enayet Karim
  Enayet Karim
  Enayet Karim was a Bangladeshi diplomat who died aged forty seven while he was Foreign Secretary of the country. A brilliant student in his youth, Karim secured the first position in Matriculation examination and later studied economics at University of Dhaka. After a brief teaching career with...
  
   (Welfare; posthumous)

1978

In the year 1978, 8 individuals were awarded:

• Poet Jasimuddin
  Jasimuddin
  Jasimuddin was a renowned Bengali poet, songwriter, prose writer, folklore collector and radio personality. He is commonly known in Bangladesh as Polli Kobi, the Rural Poet for his faithful rendition of Bangla folklore in his works...
  
   (Literature; posthumous)
• Dr. Mazharul Haque (Education; posthumous)
• Ranada Prasad Saha
  Ranadaprasad Saha
  Ranadaprasad Saha , also known as RP Saha and Ranoda Proshad Shaha, was a famous Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi businessman and philanthropist, who during the Bangladesh Liberation War was picked up from home by the Pakistani army on 7th May 1971 and never returned home.- Early life :Ranada...
  
   (Social Welfare; posthumous)
• Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim
  Muhammad Ibrahim
  Mohammad Ibrahim was a physician from Bangladesh. He was the founder of the Diabetic Association in Dhaka and in Karachi and Lahore, West Pakistan...
  
    (Social Welfare)
• Dr. Shah Muhammad Hasanuzzaman (Science and Technology)
• Abdul Ahad (Music)
• Mahfuzul Haque (Rural Development)
• Alamgir M. A. Kabir (Population Control)

1979

In the year 1979, 9 individuals and, for the first time, 1 organization were awarded:

• Abul Mansur Ahmed
  Abul Mansur Ahmed
  Abul Mansur Ahmed was a Bangladeshi littérateur. Was also a politician and journalist. He was born in Mymensingh. Renowned journalist and editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam is his son.-Student life:...
  
   (Literature; posthumous)
• Dr.Qazi Motahar Hossain
  Qazi Motahar Hossain
  Qazi Motahar Hossain is a famous Bangladeshi author, scientist, statistician and journalist. He is also renowned for his unique style of literature. He had intimate friendship with poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Kazi Abdul Odud and many other eminent figures...
  
   (Science and Technology)
• Dr. Muzaffar Ahmed Choudhury (Education; posthumous)
• Feroza Begum (Music)
• Samar Das
  Samar Das
  Samar Das was a Bangladeshi musician and composer, from Dhaka. He became one of the most important music directors in Pakistan and subsequently Bangladesh and was the composer of over 2,000 songs. -Early life:...
  
   (Music)
• Fuljhuri Khan (Music)
• Kamrul Hassan (Arts)
• Begum Tahera Kabir (Social Welfare)
• Nur Mohammad Mandal (Population Control)

1980

In the year 1980, 7 individuals were awarded:

• Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah
  Muhammad Shahidullah
  Muhammad Shahidullah , popularly known as Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah was a famous Bengali educationist, writer philologist and linguist.A dormitory in University of Dhaka is named after him .-Early life:...
  
   (Edication; posthumous)
• Mawlana Abu Zafar Mohammad Saleh (Edication)
• Alhaz Zahir Uddin (Social work; posthumous)
• Poet Farrukh Ahmed
  Farrukh Ahmed
  Farrukh Ahmad was a poet and writer of Bangladesh. He was born in the village of Sreepur Upazilla of Magura District.He was the second son of Syed Hatem Ali and Begum Rawshan. He graduated from Khulna Zila School in 1937 and did his IA from Ripon College, Kolkata in 1939...
  
   (Literature; posthumous)
• Shaheed Munir Chowdhury
  Munier Chowdhury
  Munier Chowdhury was a Bangladeshi educationist, playwright, literary critic and political dissident.-Education:...
  
   (Science and Technology; posthumous)
• Sohrab Hossain (Music)
• Dr. Khondokar Ameer Hasan (Science and Technology)

1981

In the year 1981, 8 individuals were awarded:

• Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan
  Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan
  Maulana Mohammad Akram Khan was a Bangladeshi journalist, politician and Islamic scholar. He is the founder of first Bengali newspaper The Azad.-Early Life:...
  
   (Journalism; posthumous)
• Abbas Uddin Ahmed (Music; posthumous)
• Major Abdul Ghani (Social work; posthumous)
• Begum Samsun Nahar Mahmud (Social work; posthumous)
• Abbas Mirja (Sports; posthumous)
• Dewan Mohammad Azraf
  Dewan Mohammad Azraf
  Dewan Mohammad Azraf was a teacher, author, politician, journalist, philosopher and advocate of women's progress in East Bengal. In 1993, he was honored as a National Professor in Bangladesh. He was also a supporter of the Bengali Language Movement...
  
   (Literature)
• Waliullah patwari (Education)
• Ustad Khadem Hossain Khan (Music)

1982

In the year 1982, 5 individuals were awarded:

• Dr. Abdur Rashid (Education; posthumous)
• Kazi Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain (Social work; posthumous)
• Syed Murtaza Ali (Literature; posthumous)
• Anwarul Haque (Fine Arts; posthumous)
• Begum Feroza Bari (Social service)

1983

In the year 1983, 4 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• Poet Abdul Kadir
  Abdul Kadir (Poet)
  -Life:He graduated from the University of Dhaka. Was a teacher, officer of media department, editor of `Mahenou'.-Editing:*Nazrul Rachanaboli*Rokeya Rachanaboli*Siraji Rachonaboli*Quazi Imdadul Haq Rachonaboli-Source:* Dakhil Bangla Sahitya...
  
   (Literature)
• Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haque (Education; posthumous)
• Dr. Sirajul Haque (Education)
• Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (Medical Science)

1984

In the year 1984, 6 individuals and 2 institutes were awarded:

• Dr. Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda
  Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda
  Dr.Qudrat-e-Khuda was a Bangladeshi scientist, an educationist and a writer. Born in village Margram of Birbhum district in West Bengal, Qudrat-i-Khuda received his early education from the Margram ME High School and Calcutta Woodburn ME School....
  
  
• Mohammad Nasir Uddin (Journalism)
• Professor Muhammad Mansur Udin (Literature)
• Shah Abul Hasnat Mohammad Ismail (Literature)
• Ustad Ayet Ali Khan (Music)
• Rashid Uddin Choudhury, better known as Bulbul Choudhury (Dance; posthumous)
• Didar Sarbik Gram Unnayan Samabay Somity (Rural Development)
• Kumudini Welfare Trust (Social service)

1985

In the year 1985, only 1 person was awarded:

• General Mohammad Ataul Gani Osmani (Social Welfare; posthumous)

1986

In the year 1986, 2 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development, Comilla
  Comilla
  Comilla is a city in south-eastern Bangladesh, located along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. It is the administrative center of the Comilla District, part of the Chittagong Division. The Eastern Wing of Bangladesh Highway Police is located in Comilla....
  
   (Rural Development)
• Professor Mofiz-Ud-Din Ahmed (Science and Technology)
• Md. Mosharraf Hossain (Sports)

1987

In the year 1987, 3 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• M. Hossain Ali (Social work)
• Professor Syed Ali Ahsan (Literature)
• Professor Muhammad Yunus
  Muhammad Yunus
  Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist and founder of the Grameen Bank, an institution that provides microcredit to help its clients establish creditworthiness and financial self-sufficiency. In 2006 Yunus and Grameen received the Nobel Peace Prize...
  
   (Rural Development)
• Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Transfusion (Medical Science)

1988

In the year 1988, 2 individuals were awarded:

• Aminul Islam (fine arts)
• Md. Nurul Alam (Posthumously) (Social work)

1989

In the year 1989, 2 individuals were awarded:

• Professor Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman (Medical Science and Social work)
• Niaz Morshed
  Niaz Morshed
  Niaz Murshed is a renowned chess player from Bangladesh. He is the first Grandmaster to emerge from South Asia.-Early life:...
  
   (Sports)

1990

In the year 1990, 2 individuals were awarded:

• Professor Aminul Islam (Science and Technology)
• Muhamad Yasin (Rural Development)

1991

In the year 1991, 3 individuals were awarded:

• Naeb Subedar Shah Alam (Sports)
• Poet Shamsur Rahman
  Shamsur Rahman
  Shamsur Rahman was a Bangladeshi poet, columnist and journalist. Rahman, who emerged in the latter half of the 20th century, wrote more than sixty books of poetry and is considered a key figure in Bengali literature. He was regarded the unofficial poet laureate of Bangladesh...
  
   (Literature)
• Professor Md. Innas Ali (Science and Technology)

1992

In the year 1992, 2 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• Bangladesh Rice Research Institute
  Bangladesh Rice Research Institute
  BRRI or Bangladesh Rice Research Institute is the foremost agricultural research institute in Bangladesh, located in Gazipur.-External links:*...
  
   (Science and Technology)
• Professor Kazi Jaker Hossain (Education)
• Zahir Raihan
  Zahir Raihan
  Zahir Raihan was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He disappeared on December 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by...
  
   (Literature; posthumous)

1993

In the year 1993, 5 individuals were awarded:

• Kazi Abdul Alim (Sports)
• Principal Abul Kashem
  Abul Kashem
  Mohammad Abul Kashem is generally considered as a pioneer and the architect of the historic Language Movement of Bangladesh...
  
   (Education)
• S M Sultan
  SM Sultan
  Sheikh Mohammed Sultan , better known as SM Sultan, was a painter from Bangladesh. Sultan was born on 10 August 1923 in Masimdia, Narail district, Bangladesh...
  
   (Finearts)
• Zahanara Begum (Rural Development)
• A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury
  A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury
  Dr A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury was the 15th president of Bangladesh and founding secretary-general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.-Early life:...
  
    (Medical Science)

1994

In the year 1994, 4 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• Directorate of the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (Science & Technology)
• Ahsan Habib
  Ahsan Habib
  Ahsan Habib was a popular and well-acclaimed Bangladeshi poet and a major literary figure in Bengali culture.-Poems:His first book of poem was Ratri Shesh...
  
   (Literature; posthumous)
• Atiqur Rahman (Sports)
• Mobarak Hossein Khan (Music)
• Grameen Bank
  Grameen Bank
  The Grameen Bank is a microfinance organization and community development bank started in Bangladesh that makes small loans to the impoverished without requiring collateral...
  
   (Rural Development)

1995

In the year 1995, 7 individuals were awarded:

• Dr. Abdullah Al-Muti Sharfuddin
  Abdullah-Al-Muti
  Abdullah-Al-Muti Sharfuddin was a famous Bengali educationist and popular science writer of Bangladesh.-Books:*Eso Bigganer Rajje*Obak Prithibi*Rohosser Shesh Nei*Jana-Ojanar Deshe*Sagorer Rohosshopuri*Biggan O Manush...
  
   (Science and Technology)
• Alhaz Moulavi Kazi Ambar Ali (Education)
• Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad
  Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad
  Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad or Abdul Karim the Literature Master, was a Bangladeshi author, who was born in village Suchakradondi of district Chittagong.-Life:...
  
   (Literature; posthumous)
• Begum Ferdousy Rahman (Music)
• Begum Syed Iqbal Mand Banu (Social Service)
• Mohammad Zakaria Pintu (Sports)
• Syed Mohammad Ali (Journalism)

1996

In the year 1996, 8 individuals were awarded:

• Moulavi Abdul Hashim (Literature)
• Anjuman Mufidul Islam (Social work)
• Mohammad Abdul Jabbar
  Abdul Jabbar (singer)
  Abdul Jabbar is a Bangladeshi singer with contributions to Bangladesh liberation war in 1971.He is the veteran singer of Bangladesh for his patriotic songs during the independence war of 1971 and also for his playback hits before and after 1971...
  
   (Music)
• Sabina Yasmin
  Sabina Yasmin
  Sabina Yasmin is a popular singer of Bangladeshi origin. She is renowned in Bangladesh for her patriotic songs as well as her playback singing in Bangladeshi cinema...
  
   (Music)
• Professor A. M. Zahurul Haq (Science and Technology)
• Dr. Kazi Abul Mansur (Medical Science)
• Kazi Salahuddin
  Kazi Salahuddin
  Kazi Salahuddin is a Bangladeshi former football player. He was a member of the Swadhin Bangla Football Dal, the team which played across India to raise funds during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971...
  
   (Sports)
• Safiuddin Ahmed
  Safiuddin Ahmed
  Safiuddin Ahmed is a Bangladeshi painter. He is the pioneer of printmaking in Bangladesh. He, along with Zainul Abedin and others played an important role in the foundation of the Dhaka Art College now Institute of Fine Arts under Dhaka University.-References:...
  
   (Fine arts)

1997

In the year 1997, 10 individuals were awarded:

• Dr. Munshi Siddique Ahmed (Science and Technology)
• Dr. Nurul Islam(Medical Science)
• Professor Kabir Chowdhury (Education)
• Professor Abdul Matin
  Abdul Matin
  Abdul Matin is a citizen of Afghanistan who is still held in extrajudicial detention after being transferred from United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camps, in Cuba — to an Afghan prison....
  
  (Education)
• Begum Sufia Kamal
  Sufia Kamal
  Sufia Kamal was a poet, writer, organizer, feminist and activist from Bangladesh. She was born to a Muslim family in Barisal, Bangladesh. She is one of the most widely recognized cultural personalities in Bangladesh...
  
   (Literature)
• Shawkat Osman
  Shawkat Osman
  Shawkat Osman full-name Sheikh Azizur Rahman was a Bangladeshi novelist and short story writer. He was born in Sabalsingha pur 1917 in the district of Hughli, West Bengal.His father's name Sheikh Mohammad Yehia.-Education:He was educated at the Calcutta Madrassa , and at the St...
  
   (Literature)
• Abdul Alim (Music; posthumous)
• Jahanara Imam
  Jahanara Imam
  Jahanara Imam was a Bangladeshi writer and political activist. She is most widely remembered for her efforts to bring those accused of committing war crimes in the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial...
  
   (Social work)
• Justice Syed Mohammad Hossein (Social work)
• Dhirendranath Datta
  Dhirendranath Datta
  Dhirendranath Datta was a Bengali lawyer by profession who was also active in the politics of undivided Bengal in pre-partition India, and later in East Pakistan...
  
   (Language and Independence Movements; posthumous)

1998

In the year 1998, 10 individuals were awarded:

• Shahidullah Kaiser
  Shahidullah Kaiser
  Shahidullah Kaiser was a Bangladeshi novelist and writer. He was born on 16 February 1927 in the Mazupur village in what is now the Feni District, Bangladesh.-Early life and education:...
  
   (Literature)
• Dr. Abdul Mosabber Chowdhury (Science and Technology)
• Sheikh Fazilatunnisa Mujib (Liberation War)
• Syed Nazrul Islam
  Syed Nazrul Islam
  Syed Nazrul Islam was a Bangladeshi politician and a senior leader of the Awami League. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he served as the acting President of Bangladesh in the absence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.-Early life:...
  
   (Liberation War)
• Tajuddin Ahmed (Liberation War)
• Captain Monsur Ali (Liberation War)
• A. H. M. Kamruzzaman (Liberation War)
• Abdur Rab Serniabad (Liberation War)
• Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni (Liberation War)
• Sheikh Kamal
  Sheikh Kamal
  Sheikh Kamal was the son of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh. Sheikh Kamal, had completed his matriculation from Shaheen School, Dhaka, and Higher Secondary Certificate Examination from Dhaka College. He practiced sitar at Chhayanaut, a school of music...
  
   (Sports)

1999

In the year 1999, 11 individuals were awarded:

• Mazharul Islam
  Mazharul Islam
  Muzharul Islam FAIA is a Bangladeshi architect. He is the pioneer of architecture and Bengali modernism in Bangladesh. Islam's style and influence dominated the architectural scene in Bangladesh in the 1960s and 70s, along with major US architects he brought to work in Dhaka...
  
   (architecture)
• Fazlur Rahman Khan (architecture)
• Mohammad Kibria
  Mohammad Kibria
  Mohammad Kibria was one of the leading artists in Bangladesh. He graduated from the Government School of Art in Calcutta in 1950. In 1951, he came to Dhaka where he started his career as an art teacher at the Nawabpur High School...
  
   (fine arts)
• Sikandar Abu Jafar (Literature)
• Brojen Das
  Brojen Das
  Brojen Das was the first Asian to swim across the English Channel, and the first person to cross it four times.-Early life:...
  
   (Sports)
• Begum Badrunnesa Ahmed (Social Work)
• Kalim Sharafi
  Kalim Sharafi
  Kalim Sharafi was a Bangladeshi Rabindra Sangeet singer and cultural revolutionary. He gave his ideas in several publications regarding politics, culture, and Tagore. He is regarded as one of the best Rabindra sangeet singers in the subcontinent.-Early life:Kalim Sharafi was born in Birbhun...
  
   (Music)
• Professor A. Q. M. Bazlul Karim
  A. Q. M. Bazlul Karim
  AQM Bazlul Karim was an educationist and soil scientist, born on 1 February 1920 in village Kalma in Lohajang Upazila of Munshiganj District. He passed SSC, HSC and BSc examinations in 1936, 1938 and 1940 respectively...
  
   (Education)
• Professor A.F.Salahuddin Ahmed (Education)
• Abdus Samad Azad
  Abdus Samad Azad
  Abdus Samad Azad was a diplomat and politician from Bangladesh. Azad was elected to Bangladesh's parliament five times from 1970 to 2001. He was also elected Member of Lower Assembly in the Parliament of then East Pakistan...
  
   (Liberation War)
• Professor Rashiduddin Ahmed (Medical Science)

2000

In the year 2000, 10 individuals were awarded:

• Syed Shamsul Haque
  Syed Shamsul Haque
  Syed Shamsul Haque , is a Bangladesh poets and writer. He was born in Kurigram.-Life:Syed Shamsul Haq was born in a small town called Kurigram on 27 December in 1935. His father was Syed Siddique Husain a homeopathic physician and mother Halima Khatun. His father came to Kurigram to pursue in...
  
   (Literature)
• Binodbihari Chowdhury (Social Work)
• Ajit Ray (Music)
• Ustad Khursheed Khan (Music)
• Sardar Fazlul Karim (Education)
• Shahabuddin
  Shahabuddin Ahmed (artist)
  Shahabuddin Ahmed is a world renowned painter born in Bangladesh in 1950. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, later moved to Paris. He has shown his works extensively across the globe...
  
   (Painting)
• Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish
  Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish
  Maulana Khondokar Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish was a Bangladeshi politician and parliamentarian. He strongly opposed the repressive mentality of the Nurul Amin government towards the Bengali Language Movement despite being a member of the treasury bench.-Early life:He was born in Tarulia village of...
  
   (Literature)
• Major Gn. Mohammad Abdur Rab
  Mohammad Abdur Rab
  Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rab is a renowned educator and humanitarian. He is the former Chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. He was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh. He is the professor of the department of Geography and Environment, Dhaka University and vice-chancellor of Manarat...
  
   (Bir Uttom
  Bir Uttom
  Bir Uttom is the second highest award for individual gallantry in Bangladesh after the Bir Sreshtho.Since independence of Bangladesh in 1971, 69 people have been awarded as Bir Uttom....
  
  ) (Liberation War)
• Sultana Kamal
  Sultana Kamal
  Sultana Kamal is a Bangladeshi human rights worker and politician. She was an adviser to the interim Caretaker government of Bangladesh under chief adviser and president Iajuddin Ahmed. She along with three other advisers resigned after a series of disagreements which included army deployment in...
  
   (Sports)
• Rokonuzzaman Khan (Children Organizer)

2001

In the year 2001, 10 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• Sayeda Motahera Banu (Literature)
• Shaheed Mashiur Rahman (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Alhaz Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• M. A. Aziz (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Muhammad Mayezuddin (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Ruhul Quddus (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Aminuddin (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Dr. Zikrul Haque (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Ashfaqur Rahman Khan (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• M. R. Akhtar Mukul
  M. R. Akhtar Mukul
  M. R. Akhtar Mukul was a Benaglee author and journalist from Bangladesh; earned fame for Chorompotro, a radio programme from Shwadhin Bangla Betar Kendro.- Chorompotro :...
  
   (Journalism)
• Bangladesh Cricket Board
  Bangladesh Cricket Board
  Bangladesh Cricket Board , previously known as the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, is the main governing body of cricket in Bangladesh. The Board has its headquarters in Dhaka, it is responsible for the operation and development of cricket, maintenance of of venues, and selection for the...
  
   (Sports)

2002

In the year 2002, 4 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• Hasan Hafizur Rahman
  Hasan Hafizur Rahman
  Hasan Hafizur Rahman became the editor of the Daily Bangla right after the liberation in 1971. He also worked for the government as a high official and edited the book, The Liberation War of Bangladesh, which was published in 16 volumes...
  
   (Literature)
• Barin Majumder (Music)
• Abdul Latif (Music)
• S. A. Bari (Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Dhaka Ahsania Mission (Social work)

2003

In the year 2003, 2 individuals were awarded:

• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
  Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
  Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
  
   (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh; posthumous)
• Ziaur Rahman
  Ziaur Rahman
  President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was a Bangladeshi politician and general, who read the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He later became the seventh President of Bangladesh from 1977 until 1981...
  
   (Independence and Liberation War of Bangladesh; posthumous)

2004

In the year 2004, 7 individuals and 3 organizations were awarded:

• Oli Ahad
  Oli Ahad
  -Early life:Ahad was born at the Islampur village of Brahmanbaria. In 1944 he passed matriculation from Daudkandi Government Aided High School. During the election for referendum of Pakistan, Ahad got involved with politics and campaigned in various places like Tripura, Bogra and was arrested...
  
   (Liberation war),
• Comrade Moni Singh
  Moni Singh
  Moni Singh was the founder of the Communist Party of East Pakistan. Prior to the partition of India in August 1947, Singh was a successful workers' leader who led movements to abolish exploitative labour practices. He was imprisoned for long stretches on three occasions: 1930-37, 1967–69, and...
  
   (Liberation war; posthumous)
• Brig (retd) Prof Abdul Malik
  Abdul Malik (professor)
  -Description:Professor Malik is a MBBS , MRCP , FCCP , FCPS , FRCP , FRCP , FACC . He served as:* Member, Expert Panel Committee of World Health Organization on Cardiovascular Disease ;...
  
   (medical science)
• Muhammad Siddiq Khan
  Muhammad Siddiq Khan
  Muhammad Siddiq Khan or M.S. Khan was the librarian of the Central Library of Dhaka University and the founder of the university's department of Library Science...
  
   (education; posthumous)
• Abu Ishaque (literature; posthumous)
• Altaf Mahmud
  Altaf Mahmud
  Altaf Mahmud was a musician, cultural activist and martyred freedom fighter of the Bangladesh Liberation War...
  
   (culture; posthumous)
• Valrie Ann Taylor (Social work)
• Bangladesh Ansar and VDP
  Bangladesh Ansar
  The Bangladesh Ansar is a disciplined force for the preservation of internal security and law enforcement in Bangladesh. It is administered by the Home Ministry of the Government of Bangladesh...
  
   (sports)
• Rural Development Academy
  Rural Development Academy
  The Rural Development Academy is a specialized rural development institution in Bogra, Bangladesh.-Source:*...
  
   (rural development)
• Sandhani (Social work)

2005

In the year 2005, 1 individual and 1 organization were awarded:

• Mujibul Huq
• International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
  International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
  The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh is an international health research organization located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dedicated to saving lives through research and treatment, ICDDR,B addresses some of the most critical health concerns facing the world today, ranging...
  
  

2006

In the year 2006, 2 organization were awarded:

• Rapid Action Battalion
  Rapid Action Battalion
  Rapid Action Battalion or RAB is an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of Bangladesh Police constituted amending the Armed Police Battalion Ordinance, 1979. Under the command of Inspector General of Police it consists of members of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,...
  
   (Social work)
• Bangladesh Betar
  Bangladesh Betar
  Bangladesh Betar is the state-owned radio broadcasting organisation of Bangladesh. It was also known as Radio Bangladesh between 1975 and 1996.-History:...
  
   (Bangladesh Liberation War)

2007

In the year 2007, 2 organizations were awarded:

• Bangladesh Army
  Bangladesh Army
  The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
  
   (Bangladesh Liberation War)
• BRAC
  BRAC (NGO)
  BRAC, based in Bangladesh, is the world's largest non-governmental development organization. Established by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed in 1972 soon after the independence of Bangladesh, BRAC is present in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, with over 7 million microfinance group members, 37,500 non-formal...
  
   (Social work)

2008

In the year 2007, 3 individuals and 1 organization were awarded:

• Dr. Syed Muhammad Shamsuzzoha (Liberation War)
• Dr. Govinda Chandra Dev
  Govinda Chandra Dev
  Govinda Chandra Dev , or G.C. Dev as he is popularly known as, was a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Dhaka. He was assassinated at the onset of Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 by the Pakistan Army as part of a plan to eliminate the Bangladeshi intelligentsia.-Early life:G.C...
  
   (Liberation War of Bangladesh)
• Rehman Sobhan
  Rehman Sobhan
  Rehman Sobhan is a prominent Bangladeshi economist and civil society leader. He played a leading role in the Bengali nationalist movement in the 1960s, including authoring the Two Economies Theory and drafting the Six point demands of Bengali nationalists...
  
   (Research and Training)
• Bangladesh Rifles
  Bangladesh Rifles
  Border Guard Bangladesh is the oldest uniformed force in Bangladesh. It is a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh...
  
   (Bangladesh Liberation War)

2009

Four eminent personalities have received the Independence Day Award -2009 in recognition of their glorious role at national level. They are:

• Abdul Goffar Chowdhury (literature)
• Abdul Matin (culture)
• Professor A M Harun-or Rashid (science and technology)
• Ivy Rahman (posthumous) (social welfare)

2010

Swadhinata Puroshkar (Independence Day Award) 2010 has been awarded 10 distinguished persons and an organisation as below:

• AKM Samsul Haque Khan (posthumously) (independence & liberation war)
• Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury (independence & liberation war)
• Belal Mohammad (independence & liberation war)
• Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui (education)
• Jatin Sarker (education)
• Romena Afaz (posthumously) (Literature)
• Dr Mustafa Nur-ul Islam (Literature)
• Waheedul Haq (posthumously) (culture)
• Alamgir Kabir (posthumously) (culture)
• Ferdousi Priyabhashini (culture)
• Bangla Academy (culture)

2011

Swadhinata Padak (Independence Day Award) 2011 has been awarded 2 institutions and 7 personalities as below:
Two institutions

• Dhaka University (Education)
• Bangladesh Police
  Bangladesh Police
  The Bangladesh Police is the main law enforcement agency of Bangladesh. It is administered under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and enforcement of law and order within the whole of Bangladesh...
  
  (contribution to liberation war)

Seven personalities

• Gaus Khan (posthumous for contribution to liberation war),
• Sanghraj Jyotipal Mahathero (posthumous for contribution to liberation war),
• Dr Neelima Ibrahim (posthumous for contribution to liberation war),
• Air Vice Marshal (retd) Abdul Karim Khandaker, Beer Uttam (contribution to liberation war),
• Nutan Chandra Singho (posthumous for contribution to liberation war),
• AKM Shamsujjuha (posthumous for contribution to liberation war), and
• Muhammad Abul Hashem Khan (culture)

External links

• List of awardees, Cabinet Division, Bangladesh Government