Dhaka: The interim government has reinstated the posthumous Independence Award bestowed upon Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. The Cabinet Division, through a notification signed by its Additional Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim, announced the names of recipients for this year's Independence Award.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the notification confirmed that the Independence Award given to Shaheed President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in 2003 would remain in force. The government had previously canceled this award in 2016 following a Supreme Court verdict. The verdict did not mandate the cancellation of the Independence Award, prompting the government to reverse its decision, acknowledging Ziaur Rahman's contribution to the Great Liberation War.
The government also nominated seven distinguished individuals for the 'Independence Award 2025' in recognition of their national contributions. The nominees include Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam (posthumously) for science and technology, Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud (posthumously) for literature, Novera Ahmed (posthumously) for culture, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed (posthumously) for social service, Mohammad Mahbubul Haque Khan alias Azam Khan (posthumously) for Liberation War and culture, Badruddin Mohammad Umar for education and research, and Abrar Fahad (posthumously) for his role as a young protester.