Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday handed over Ekushey Padak-2015 to 15 eminent persons of the country for their distinguished contributions in their respective fields.

Sheikh Hasina handed over the award at a function at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday morning.

The recipients are late Piaru Sardar (posthumous) for language movement, Majibar Rahman Debdas in liberation war, Dwijen Sharma in language and literature, Mohammad Nurul Huda in language and literature, late Abdur Rahman Boyati (posthumous) in arts, SA Abul Hayat in arts, ATM Shamsuzzaman in arts and MA Mannan in education.

The recipients also include Sanat Kumar Saha for education, Abul Kalam Mohammad Zakaria in research, Kamal Lohani in journalism, Faridur Reza Sagar as media personality, and Jharna Dhara Chowdhury, Srimat Satya Priya Mahathero and Arup Ratan Choudhury for their contributions as social activists.

The each Padak (award) carries a cheque for Taka one lakh, a crest and citation.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the Ekushey Padak distribution function, organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Cultural Affairs Secretary Ranjit Kumar Biswas delivered the welcome address, while Cabinet Secretary Mohammadd Musharraf Hussain Bhuiyan conducted the function and read out the citation of the Ekushey Padak recipients with their brief life sketch.

Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition in parliament, judges, parliament members, Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad, chiefs of three services, diplomats, vice-chancellors of different universities and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.