Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday distributed coveted Ekushey Padak-2019 among 21 eminent citizens for their contributions to their respective fields, reports the UNB.

The Prime Minister handed over the Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, to the awardees or their family members at a function organised by Cultural Affairs Ministry at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

Prof Halima Khatun (posthumous), Advocate Golam Arif Tipu and Prof Monowara Islam got the award for their role in the Language Movement.

Subir Nandi, Azam Khan (posthumous) and Khairul Anam Shakil won the award for their contributions to music while Lucky Enam, Suborna Mustafa and Liaquat Ali Lucky for performing arts.

Sayeda Khanam and Jamal Uddin Ahmed were honoured with the award for their contributions to photography and fine arts respectively while Khitindra Chandra Baishya was given the Ekushey Padak for his role in the Liberation War.

Dr Biswajit Ghosh and Dr Mahbubul Haque were conferred the award for their research while Dr Pranab Kumar Barua was awarded for his contribution to education.

Rizia Rahman, Imdadul Haq Milon, Ashim Saha, Anwara Syed Haq, Mainul Ahsan Saber and Harishankar Jaladas received the award for contributions to language and literature.

Each recipient got a gold medal, a certificate and a cheque for Tk 2 lakh.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid presided over the function.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam read out the citations of the award recipients, while Acting Cultural Affairs Secretary Dr Md Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal delivered the welcome speech.