Dhaka: Eighteen distinguished personalities have been given the ‘Swadhinata Padak 2018’ (Independence Award), the highest civilian honour of the country, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday handed over the award to the recipients at a function organised by the Cabinet Division at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

The recipients are: Quazi Zakir Hasan (posthumous) in the category of Independence and Liberation War, Shaheed SMA Rashidul Hasan (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Shankar Govinda Chowdhury (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Air Vice-Marshal Sultan Mahmud Bir Uttam in Independence and Liberation War, M Abdur Rahim (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Bhupati Bhusan Chowdhury alias Manik Chowdhury (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Shaheed Lieutenant Mohammad Anwarul Azim (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Humayun Rashid Chowdhury (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Shaheed Amanullah Mohammad Asaduzzaman (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Shaheed Motiur Rahman Mallik (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haq (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War, Amzadul Haq in Independence and Liberation War, Cultural Affairs Minister Assaduzzaman Noor in Culture while Channel-i director Shykh Seraj in Agricultural Journalism, Prof Dr AKMD Ahsan Ali in Medicine, Professor AK Azad Khan in Social Service, Selina Hossen in Literature and Dr M Abdul Mazid in Food Security.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam read out the citations at the programme.

Cabinet members, MPs, secretaries, diplomats, the award recipients and others were present on the occasion.