Location Dhaka First awarded 1977 Presented by Government of Bangladesh | Country Bangladesh Ceremony date 23 March 2017 | |
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Awarded for Substantial contribution to any field in national life Winners Nazmul Huq, Nazmul Huq, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Rabeya Khatun, Rabeya Khatun, Independence Day Award for Literature, Independence Day Award for Literature, Faizur Rahman, Faizur Rahman, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Khalil Kazi OBE, Khalil Kazi OBE, Independence Day Award for Social Service, Independence Day Award for Social Service, Enamul Haque, Enamul Haque, Independence Day Award for Culture, Independence Day Award for Culture, Ashraful Alam, Ashraful Alam, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Golam Samdani Quraishy, Golam Samdani Quraishy, Independence Day Award for Literature, Independence Day Award for Literature, Syed Mohsin Ali, Syed Mohsin Ali, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Air Force, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Independence Day Award for Research and Training, Independence Day Award for Research and Training, Ostad Bazlur Rahman Badal, Ostad Bazlur Rahman Badal, Independence Day Award for Culture, Independence Day Award for Culture, Lalit Mohan Nath, Lalit Mohan Nath, Independence Day Award for Research and Training, Independence Day Award for Research and Training, Shamsul Alam Bir Uttam, Shamsul Alam Bir Uttam, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, NM Nazmul Ahsan, NM Nazmul Ahsan, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Independence Day Award for Independence and Liberation War, Professor AHM Touhidul Anowar Chawdhury, Professor AHM Touhidul Anowar Chawdhury, Independence Day Award for Medical Science, Independence Day Award for Medical Science, Professor Mohammad Asaduzzaman, Professor Mohammad Asaduzzaman, Independence Day Award for Public Administration, Independence Day Award for Public Administration | ||
The Independence Day Award (Bengali: স্বাধীনতা পদক), also termed Independence Award (Bengali: স্বাধীনতা পুরস্কার), Swadhinata Padak, and Swadhinata Puroskar, is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977, this award is bestowed upon Bangladeshi citizens or organizations in recognition of substantial contribution to one of many fields, including the War of Liberation, the Language Movement, education, literature, journalism, public service, science and technology, medical science, social science, song, games and sports, fine arts, rural development, and other areas.
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Each awardee receives a gold medal, a certificate of honour, and a sum of cash. The amount of the cash reward was originally taka 20 thousand, but was subsequently increased to taka one lac (.10 million in Bangladeshi currency) in 2004. A cabinet committee on national awards prepares the list of each year's nominees and forwards the list to the head of the government for final approval. The award is traditionally presented on the eve of Independence day in Bangladesh at a much publicized ceremony attended by several cabinet and parliament members and distinguished society guests.
In 2006, the award generated some controversy as the initial list was not accepted by the Prime Minister. Furthermore, the award to the Rapid Action Battalion was criticized by many because of RAB's alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings.