Seventeen eminent personalities yesterday were given Ekushey Padak, 2017 in various categories for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presented the award at a ceremony in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

The awardees are Dr Sharifa Khatun (Language Movement), Shushama Das (music), Julhas Uddin Ahmed (music), Ustad Ajijul Islam (music), Tanvir Mokammel (film), Syed Abdullah Khalid (sculpture), Sara Zaker (acting), Abul Momen (journalism), Syed Akram Hossain (research), Professor Emeritus Alamgir Mohammad Sirajuddin (education), Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury (science and technology), Professor Mahmud Hasan (social welfare), late poet Omar Ali (language and literature), Sukumar Barua (language and literature), Swadesh Roy (journalism), Shamim Ara Nipa (choreography), and Rahmatullah Al Mahmud Selim (music).

Each recipient got a gold medal, a certificate and a cheque for Tk 2 lakh. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor presided over the programme.