10 get Swadhinata Puroskar

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the recipients of Independence Award 2014 and their representatives in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium yesterday. A total of nine eminent persons and a government organisation got the award this year. Photo: BSS

The government yesterday awarded nine persons, six of them posthumously, and a state-run organisation this year's Swadhinata Puroskar, the highest state award for contributions to society.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed the award among the recipients and their representatives in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Under "Independence and Liberation War" category, the award was given to Mohammad Abul Khayer (posthumously), Shahid Munsi Kabir Uddin Ahmed (posthumously), Shahid Qazi Azizul Islam (posthumously), Lt Col (retd) Abu Osman Chowdhury, Dr Khasruzzaman Chowdhury (posthumously), Shahid SBM Mizanur Rahman (posthumously), and Dr Mohammad Haris Ali (posthumously).
Principal M Quamruzzaman received the award posthumously for his contributions to education, while noted artist Quiyum Chowdhury got it under the category of culture.
The Independence Award 2014 was given to Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) for its outstanding contributions to research and training.
On the occasion, the prime minister urged the people to reinforce the unity shown against the anti-liberation forces during the January 5 general elections to save the nation from disasters.
Cabinet Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan read out a citation on the award recipients and conducted the function organised by the Cabinet Division.
The chief justice, cabinet members, PM's advisers, MPs, Supreme Court judges, chiefs of the three services, high civil and military officials, diplomats and relatives of the award recipients attended the ceremony.