Bidyanondo Foundation to get Ekushey Padak

Bidyanondo Foundation, a non-profit working for social welfare, will be awarded the Ekushey Padak this year.

The government in a notification today announced the names of 19 eminent citizens and two institutions that will be getting this year's Ekushey Padak for their contributions to various fields.

For years, Bidyanondo Foundation has been working restlessly for the underprivileged and socially ignored groups across the country. It has been helping people in need with different materials.

Soon after the announcement, Kishore Kumar Das, founder of Bidyanondo Foundation, said, "It is the achievement of the people who give their money to the people in distress. The beauty is that the government has acknowledged their contribution."

"It's not the achievement of mine. It is the achievement of the volunteers and the people of all spheres who came forward and contributed," he said, adding that the people were the real heroes and recipients of the award.

Kishore said such recognition of voluntary activities will lead to more people joining hands to build a prosperous Bangladesh.

Bangladesh National Museum is the other institution getting the award.

This year, three persons -- Khaleda Manzoor-e Khuda, freedom fighter, AKM Shamsul Haque (posthumously) and Haji Mohammad Majibor Rahman -- were chosen for the award in the Language Movement category.

Masud Ali Khan and Shimul Yusuf would get the award for acting.

Manoranjan Ghoshal, Gazi Abdul Hakim and Fazal-e-Khuda (posthumously) have been picked for their contributions to music.

Jayanto Chattopadhyay has been chosen for recitation category, Nawazish Ali Khan for Shilpakala, and Kanak Chanpa Chakma for painting.

Momtaz Uddin (posthumously) will get the award in the Liberation War category, Shah Alamgir (posthumously) in journalism, Abdul Majid in research, Prof Mazharul Islam (posthumously) in education, Saidul Haque in social service, Manjurul Imam (posthumously) and Akhter Uddin Mia (posthumously) in politics, and Maniruzzaman in language and literature, said the notification of the cultural affairs ministry.

Ekushey Padak is the second-highest civilian award after Swadhinata Padak. Twenty-four eminent personalities were awarded the Ekushey Padak last year.