Ekushey Padak

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Ekushey Padak
TypeNational Civilian
CountryBangladesh
Presented by Government of Bangladesh
Established1976
First awarded1976
Last awarded2026
Precedence
Next (higher)Independence Award

Ekushey Padak[lower-alpha 1] is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of those killed by Pakistani authorities in the Bengali language movement of 1952.[1] It is given in fields including culture, education, and economics. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs administers the award.[2]

The award consists of an 18-carat gold medal weighing 3 tolas, a certificate of honour and a cash award.[1] The medal was designed by the artist Nitun Kundu.[3] The amount of the cash reward was originally ৳ 25,000, but it was increased to ৳ 100,000 in 2015, to ৳ 200,000 in 2017 and to ৳ 400,000 as of November 2019.[4]

Cabinet ministries and prior winners submit nominees, and the National Committee on Citizenship and Cultural Affairs chooses finalists, of whom those approved by the prime minister receive the award.[5]

The name Ekushey[6] refers to 21 February 1952, commemorated as Language Movement Day and International Mother Language Day, when students campaigning for official status of the Bengali language within Pakistan were killed by law enforcement.[7]

Fields[edit | edit source]

The Ekushey Padak is awarded to Bangladeshi citizens and various organizations who have played an outstanding role and contribution to the development and progress of Bangladesh in ten fields: Bengali language movement, liberation war, education, literature, art, research, economics, journalism, science and technology, and social service.[8]

Ekushey Padak in Art[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Art (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is given for music, charisma,[further explanation needed] dance, drama and films of Bangladesh.[9]

It was first given in 1976.[10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Economy[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Economy (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.)[9] was first given in 2018.[13][14][10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Education[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Education (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.)[9] was first given in 1976.[10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Journalism[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Journalism (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is given to recognize the unique contribution of journalism.[9] In 1976, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah, Abul Kalam Shamsuddin and Abdus Salam[15] Ekushey Padak in Journalism was given.[10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Language Movement[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Language Movement (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is one of the main fields of the Ekushey Padak. It is a national given to recognize the contribution of Bangla Language Movement in 1952.[9] In 2000 Language Martyr Barkat, Language Martyr Jabbar, Language Martyr Salam, Language Martyr Rafiq, Language Martyr Shafiur and language soldier Gaziul Haque for the first time was given Ekushey Padak in the Language Movement.[10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in War of Liberation[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in War of Liberation (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is one of the main fields of the Ekushey Padak. It is a national given to recognize the contribution of 1971's Bangladesh Liberation War.[9] In 2013, Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid For the first time, Ekushey Padak was given in Liberation War.[10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Literature[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Literature (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is given to people belonging to literature in Bengali language to give recognition to their unique contribution.[9] In 1976, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Kazi Nazrul Islam, Natyaguru Nurul Momen, Jasim Uddin, Abdul Quadir and Sufia Kamal Ekushey Padak in Literature was given.[10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Research[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Research (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is given to recognize the unique contribution of Research of Bangladesh.[9] In 2003, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Abdul Mannan Syed Ekushey Padak in Research was given.[10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Science and Technology[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Science and Technology (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is given by the Government of Bangladesh. This award given to the recognize the unique contributions in science and technology by Bangladeshi citizens.[9] In 2000, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced, and first Bangladeshi to receive the award was Jamal Nazrul Islam.[16][10][11][12]

Ekushey Padak in Social service[edit | edit source]

Ekushey Padak in Social service (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is given by the Government of Bangladesh. This award is given to recognize the unique contribution of social service by Bangladeshi citizens.[9] In 2000, for the first time, Ekushey Padak was introduced in the beginning Mohiuddin Ahmed Ekushey Padak in Social service was given.[10][11][12]

Awards by decade[edit | edit source]

Winners of Ekushey Padak 2026

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., bn; lit. 'Medal of the Twenty-first'

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "National Awards". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Nomination proposals sought for Ekushey Padak-2018". The Independent (Bangladesh). Dhaka. 17 July 2017. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Artist Nitun Kundu passes away". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 16 September 2006. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2006.
  4. ↑ "National awards money doubled, amount for Independence Award raised to Tk 500,000". bdnews24.com. 21 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  5. ↑ একুশে পদক প্রদান নীতিমালা [Method of giving Ekushey Padak]. Ministry of Culture (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "The relevance of ekushey". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  7. ↑ Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Ekushey February". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "The overall process of awarding Ekushey Padak". Department of Information and Communication Technology, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. 4 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 একুশে পদক পাচ্ছেন তোয়াব খান, মফিদুল হকসহ ১৬ জন [Towb Khan, Mofidul Haq, 16 people including Ekushey Padak]. Janakantha (in Bengali). 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  10. ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 ১৬ কৃতী ব্যক্তি পাচ্ছেন একুশে পদক [16 creditable person getting Ekushey Padak]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 11 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 একুশে পদকের মনোনয়ন আহ্বান [Ekushey Padak Nomination Call]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 একুশে পদক ঘোষণা [Ekushey Padak Declaration]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  13. ↑ একুশে পদক ২০১৮ প্রদান. Ministry of Culture (in Bengali). 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  14. ↑ একুশে পদক পাচ্ছেন একুশ গুণী [Twenty-one people receiving Ekushey Padak]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  15. ↑ সম্পাদক আব্দুস সালাম [Editor Abdus Salam memorial]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 13 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "Ekushey Padakaprita Goodbye and Institution" (PDF). Ministry of Culture. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2018.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Bengali honours and decorations Template:Language Movement

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