Ekushey Padak ( bn, একুশে পদক; lit. "Twentyfirst Award") 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 eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mo ...

, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement 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 with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile ...

medal weighing 3 tolas and a certificate of honour. The medal was designed by the artist

Nitun Kundu Nitya Gopal Kundu (3 December 1935 – 15 September 2006) was a Bangladeshi artist, sculptor and entrepreneur. Kundu played an important role during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. He founded the furniture company Otobi. Early life Ku ...

. The amount of the cash reward was originally ৳ 25,000, but it was subsequently increased to ৳ 100,000 in 2015. Next it was increased to tk 2,00,000 in 2017 and to tk 4,00,000 as of November 2019.

Etymology

The name ''Ekushey'' is important to Bengali nationalism, referring to 21 February 1952, commemorated as

Language Movement Day (''Bhasha Andolôn Dibôs'') , nickname = bn, শহীদ দিবস (''Shôhid Dibôs'') , duration = 1 day , frequency = Annual , observedby = Bangladesh and Bengali speakers in India and elsewhere , date = 21 Feb ...

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 formal ...

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

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

were killed by police.

Method of giving Ekushey Padak

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 medals. # The Honorable President / Prime Minister will lift the Ekushey Padak in the year when the names of the recipients will be announced.

Fields of the Ekushey Padak

Ekushey Padak in Art

Ekushey Padak in Art ( bn, শিল্পকলায় একুশে পদক) is given to recognize the unique contribution of

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

charisma Charisma () is a personal quality of presence or charm that compels its subjects. Scholars in sociology, political science, psychology, and management reserve the term for a type of leadership seen as extraordinary; in these fields, the term "ch ...

dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoire ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

and

films A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

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

Altaf Mahmud Altaf Mahmud ( bn, আলতাফ মাহমুদ; 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 ...

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) also known as Ferdausi Begum is a Bangladeshi playback singer. She is the daughter of folk singer Abbas Uddin. She sang some popular film songs for Pakistani films also in the 1960s especially working with th ...

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 1985) 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 ( bn, অর্থনীতিতে একুশে পদক) 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 ( bn, শিক্ষায় একুশে পদক) 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-i-Khuda ( – 3 November 1977) was a Bangladeshi organic chemist, educationist and writer. He founded the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. From 1969 till 1972, he served as the president of the Pakista ...

and Muhammad Mansur Uddin Ekushey Padak in Education was given.

Ekushey Padak in Journalism

Ekushey Padak in Journalism ( bn, সাংবাদিকতায় একুশে পদক) 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 Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah ( – 1 June 1969) was a Bengali journalist and politician. He served as the founding editor of '' The Daily Ittefaq''. He wrote the editorial Rajnoitik Moncho (''The Political Stage''). Most of his journalists were co ...

Abul Kalam Shamsuddin Abul Kalam Shamsuddin (3 November 18974 March 1978) was a journalist, politician and littérateur. He was born at Trishal of Mymensingh. Early life Shamsuddin passed HSC from Dhaka College in 1919. Then we went to Ripon College (presently Su ...

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 Punjabis, Punjabi Pakistani theoretical physici ...

Ekushey Padak in Journalism was given.

Ekushey Padak in Language Movement

Ekushey Padak in Language Movement ( bn, ভাষা আন্দোলনে একুশে পদক) is one of the main fields of the Ekushey Padak. It is an 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 Abu Naser Muhammad Gaziul Haque (13 February 1929 – 17 June 2009) was a language activist and an activist leader during the Bengali Language Movement. Early life and education Haque was born in Nichintapur village of Chhagalnaiya Upazila in F ...

for the first time was given Ekushey Padak in the Language Movement.

Ekushey Padak in War of Liberation

Ekushey Padak in War of Liberation ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধে একুশে পদক) is one of the main fields of the Ekushey Padak. It is an national given to recognize the contribution of 1971's

Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali ...

. In 2013, Social Welfare Minister

Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid (28 March 1938 – 25 February 2016) was a Bangladeshi politician and Minister of Social Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2013. Career Shahid was elected parliament member f ...

For the first time, Ekushey Padak was given in Liberation War.

Ekushey Padak in Literature

Ekushey Padak in Literature ( bn, সাহিত্যে একুশে পদক) 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, Jasim Uddin,

Abdul Quadir Abdul Quadir (1 June 1906 – 19 December 1984) was a Bangladeshi poet, essayist, and journalist. He was the recipient of Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1963 and Ekushey Padak in 1976. Early life and education Quadir was born in the village of ...

and Sufia Kamal Ekushey Padak in Literature was given.

Ekushey Padak in Research

Ekushey Padak in Research ( bn, গবেষণায় একুশে পদক) 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 Abdul Mannan Syed (3 August 19435 September 2010) was a Bangladeshi poet, and critic. He is known for his considerable research works on Kazi Nazrul Islam, Jibanananda Das, Farrukh Ahmad, Syed Waliullah, Manik Bandopadhyay, Manik Bandyopadhyay, ...

Ekushey Padak in Research was given.

Ekushey Padak in Science and Technology

Ekushey Padak in Science and Technology ( bn, বিজ্ঞান ও প্রযুক্তিতে একুশে পদক) is given by the

Government of Bangladesh The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার — ) is the central executive government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Con ...

. 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 Jamal Nazrul Islam (24 February 1939 – 16 March 2013) was a Bangladeshi mathematical physicist and cosmologist. He was a professor at University of Chittagong, served as a member of the advisory board at Shahjalal University of Science and Tec ...

Ekushey Padak in Social service

Ekushey Padak in Social service ( bn, সমাজসেবায় একুশে পদক) 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 Mohiuddin Ahmed (died 28 January 2010) was a Bangladesh Army officer who was convicted of the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On 28 January 2010, Ahmed was hanged along with Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, A.K.M. Mohiuddin Ahmed, Syed Faro ...

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) A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...

* List of Ekushey Padak award recipients (2020–29)

References

External links

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