Ekushey Padak () is the second highest civilian award in

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

, introduced in memory of martyrs of the

Bengali language movement The Bengali language movement was a political movement in East Bengal (modern-day Bangladesh) in 1952, advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as a co-lingua franca of the then-Dominion of Pakistan to allow its use in government ...

of 1952. The award is given to recognize contributions in a number of fields, including culture, education, and economics. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs administers the award. The award consists of an 18-carat

gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...

medal weighing 3 tolas, a certificate of honour and a cash award. The medal was designed by the artist Nitun Kundu. The amount of the cash reward was originally ৳ 25,000, but it was increased to ৳ 100,000 in 2015, to ৳ 200,000 in 2017 and to ৳ 400,000 as of November 2019.

Etymology

The name ''Ekushey'' is important to

Bengali nationalism Bengali nationalism (, ) is a form of ethnic nationalism that focuses on Bengalis as a single ethnicity by rejecting imposition of other languages and cultures while promoting its own in Bengal. Bengalis speak the Bengali language and mos ...

, referring to 21 February 1952, commemorated as

Language Movement Day The Language Movement Day (), officially called Language Martyrs' Day (), is a national holiday of Bangladesh taking place on 21 February each year and commemorating the Bengali language movement and its martyrs. On this day, people visit Shahee ...

and

International Mother Language Day International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally reco ...

, when students campaigning for official status of the Bengali language within

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

were killed by law enforcement.

Method of giving

In the case of Ekushey Padak, following methods are followed. # All the ministries / divisions, deputy commissioners and the Ministry of Culture, under the attachment table, are requested to give a proposal to the Directorate / Department / Organization and the award of prizes to the public universities. All electronic and print press releases are published to get the names of eligible people to receive this award or nomination. In addition, full information was published on the information ministry website. # Those who have previously received Ekushey Padak or Independence Medal can send nomination proposals to qualified individuals or organizations. # The proposers have to mention about their proposed person about 350 words in their short biography and in the organization, the identity of the organization (including proofs). # The National Committee on Citizenship and Cultural Affairs, the sub-committee selects the primary list for selection of Ekushey Padak nomination or submits the appropriate person or organization to the Prime Minister in the consideration of the cabinet committee. # If the Prime Minister approves, the name of the person (class) / institution (s) selected in the radio, television and newspapers in the first week of February is published. Earlier, the ministry of culture will contact the person / organization (posthumous paternal or his / her / her successor) in the respective medal and accept the acceptance of medal from them. # If a person / institution refuses to accept the medal or does not have their opinion at the particular time, then it will be reported to the cabinet division. Name of that person / organization will not be included in the final list of medals and their names will not be declared as medal recipients. # The Honorable President / Prime Minister will lift the Ekushey Padak in the year when the names of the recipients will be announced.

Fields

Ekushey Padak in Art

Ekushey Padak in Art () is given to recognize the unique contribution of

music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

charisma () is a personal quality of magnetic charm, persuasion, or appeal. In the fields of sociology and political science, psychology, and management, the term ''charismatic'' describes a type of leadership. In Christian theology, the term ''chari ...

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

and

films A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of Visual arts, visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are gen ...

of Bangladesh. In 1977, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Abdul Alim,

Altaf Mahmud Altaf Mahmud (23 December 1933 – September 1971) was a musician, cultural activist, and martyred freedom fighter of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was also a language activist of the Language Movement and composer of " Amar Bhaier Rokte Ra ...

Gul Mohammad Khan Ustad Gul Mohammad Khan (1876–1979) was a Bangladeshi musician. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1977 by the Government of Bangladesh. Background Khan's father, Ustad Ahmad Khan, was a singer in the court of the Maharaja. His grandfather, Usta ...

Ferdousi Rahman Ferdausi Rahman (; born 28 June 1941) is a Bangladeshi playback singer. She sang some popular film songs for Pakistani films also in the 1960s especially working with the music composer Robin Ghosh in film Chakori released in 1967. She was award ...

Zaheer Raihan Mohammad Zahirullah (19 August 1935 – disappeared 30 January 1972), known as Zahir Raihan, was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is most notable for his documentary '' Stop Genocide'' (1971), made during the Bangladesh Liberatio ...

and

Rashid Choudhury Rashid Hossain Choudhury (;1 April 1932 – 12 December 1986) was a Bangladeshi second generation artist, sculptor, writer and professor. He played a major part in the art movements and improvement in the art-related educational institutions of ...

Ekushey Padak in Art was given.

Ekushey Padak in Economy

Ekushey Padak in Economy () is given to recognize the unique contribution of Bangladesh's economy by Bangladeshi citizens. In 2013, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced, and first Bangladeshi to receive the award was Dr. Moynul Islam.

Ekushey Padak in Education

Ekushey Padak in Education () is given to recognize of

the unique contributions of the education system. In 1976, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning

Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda Muhammad Qudrat-A-Khuda (1 December 1900 – 3 November 1977) was a Bangladeshi Organic chemistry, organic chemist, educationist and writer. He is most notable for publishing ''Qudrat-a-Khuda Education Commission Report'' in 1973 as a chairman ...

and Muhammad Mansur Uddin Ekushey Padak in Education was given.

Ekushey Padak in Journalism

Ekushey Padak in Journalism () is given to recognize the unique contribution of journalism. In 1976, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah, Abul Kalam Shamsuddin and

Abdus Salam Mohammad Abdus Salam Salam adopted the forename "Mohammad" in 1974 in response to the anti-Ahmadiyya decrees in Pakistan, similarly he grew his beard. (; ; 29 January 192621 November 1996) was a Pakistani theoretical physicist. He shared the 1 ...

Ekushey Padak in Journalism was given.

Ekushey Padak in Language Movement

Ekushey Padak in Language Movement () is one of the main fields of the Ekushey Padak. It is a national given to recognize the contribution of Bangla Language Movement in 1952. In 2000 Language Martyr Barkat, Language Martyr Jabbar, Language Martyr Salam, Language Martyr Rafiq, Language Martyr Shafiur and language soldier Gaziul Haque for the first time was given Ekushey Padak in the Language Movement.

Ekushey Padak in War of Liberation

Ekushey Padak in War of Liberation () is one of the main fields of the Ekushey Padak. It is a national given to recognize the contribution of 1971's

Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...

. In 2013, Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid For the first time, Ekushey Padak was given in Liberation War.

Ekushey Padak in Literature

Ekushey Padak in Literature () is given to people belonging to literature in Bengali language to give recognition to their unique contribution. In 1976, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning

Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam (24 May 1899 – 29 August 1976) was a Bengalis, Bengali poet, short story writer, journalist, lyricist and musician. He is the national poet of Bangladesh. Nazrul produced a List of works by Kazi Nazrul Islam, large body of ...

Natyaguru Nurul Momen (25 November 1908 – 16 February 1990) was a Bangladeshi playwright, educator, director, broadcast personality, orator, humorist, dramatist, academician, satirist, belletrist, essayist, columnist, translator and poet.Bangla Natyasha ...

Nurul Momen, Jasim Uddin, Abdul Quadir and Sufia Kamal Ekushey Padak in Literature was given.

Ekushey Padak in Research

Ekushey Padak in Research () is given to recognize the unique contribution of Research of Bangladesh. In 2003, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Abdul Mannan Syed Ekushey Padak in Research was given.

Ekushey Padak in Science and Technology

Ekushey Padak in Science and Technology () is given by the

Government of Bangladesh The government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh () is the central government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Constitution of Bangladesh comprising the executive (the president, prime minister and cabinet), the ...

. This award given to the recognize the unique contributions in science and technology by Bangladeshi citizens. In 2000, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced, and first Bangladeshi to receive the award was Jamal Nazrul Islam.

Ekushey Padak in Social service

Ekushey Padak in Social service () is given by the

. This award is given to recognize the unique contribution of social service by Bangladeshi citizens. In 2000, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Mohiuddin Ahmed Ekushey Padak in Social service was given.

Awards by decade

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the 2014 Ekushe prize winners

* List of Ekushey Padak award recipients (1976–79) * List of Ekushey Padak award recipients (1980–89) * List of Ekushey Padak award recipients (1990–99) * List of Ekushey Padak award recipients (2000–09) * List of Ekushey Padak award recipients (2010–19) * List of Ekushey Padak award recipients (2020–29)

References

External links

* * {{Language Movement Ekushey Padak Civil awards and decorations of Bangladesh Bangladeshi media awards Bengali language movement Awards established in 1976 1976 establishments in Bangladesh