As recognition of outstanding and glorious contributions at the national level, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the “Independence Award 2026” to 15 distinguished individuals and five institutions of the country. Today, Thursday at 4:00 PM, at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, the Prime Minister handed over the awards to this year’s nominees. First, the posthumous award of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was received by her granddaughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman. She accepted her grandmother’s award from the Prime Minister. Former Prime Minister and late BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was awarded the Independence Award for her overall contributions to “independence, democracy, and women’s education, as well as nation-building.” Including Khaleda Zia, seven individuals received the award posthumously. They are: Major Mohammad Abdul Jalil for contributions to the Liberation War, Dr. Ashraf Siddiqui in literature, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury and Maherin Chowdhury in social service, Bashir Ahmed in culture, and Kazi Fazlur Rahman in public administration. On behalf of Major Jalil, his daughter Barrister Sara Jalil; on behalf of Dr. Ashraf Siddiqui, his daughter Tasnim Arifa Siddiqui; on behalf of Zafrullah Chowdhury, his son Barish Hasan Chowdhury; on behalf of Maherin Chowdhury, her husband Mansur Helal; on behalf of Bashir Ahmed, his daughter Humayara Bashir; and on behalf of Kazi Fazlur Rahman, his daughter Tabassum Shahnaz received the awards from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. In science and technology, Professor Zahurul Karim; in culture, A.K.M. Hanif (Hanif Sanket); in sports, Jobera Rahman (Linu); in social service, Saidul Haque; in research and training, Mohammad Abdul Baki, Professor M.A. Rahim, and Professor Sukomal Barua; and in environmental conservation, Abdul Mukit Majumdar (Mukit Majumdar Babu) received the Independence Award from the Prime Minister. On behalf of Professor Zahurul Karim, his son Harunur Rashid received the award, while A.K.M. Hanif, Jobera Rahman, Saidul Haque, Mohammad Abdul Baki, M.A. Rahim, Professor Sukomal Barua, and Abdul Mukit Majumdar personally received their awards from the Prime Minister. This year, five institutions were nominated for the Independence Award: Faujdarhat Cadet College for contributions to the Liberation War, Dhaka Medical College Hospital in medical science, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in rural development, SOS Children’s Villages in public service, and Gonoshasthaya Kendra. The awards were received by Lieutenant Colonel Adnan Kabir, Principal of Faujdarhat Cadet College; Brigadier General Md. Asaduzzaman, Director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital; Zakir Ahmed Khan, Chairman of PKSF; Enamul Haque, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages; and Beauty Rani Saha, Senior Paramedic of Gonoshasthaya Kendra. The Independence Award is the highest civilian honor in the country. Since 1977, the government has been awarding it every year on the occasion of Independence Day, March 26