Ten eminent personalities will receive the Independence Award 2012 in recognition to their glorious contributions at the national level.
The awardees include Shaheed Lt Commander Moazzem Hossain (posthumous), who was No. 2 accused in the Agartala Conspiracy Case and had embraced martyrdom in the hands of Pakistani occupation forces on March 26 in 1971, Shaheed Abul Kalam Shamsuddin (posthumous), the then sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Sirajganj who joined the Liberation War as an organiser and was brutally killed by the occupation forces on May 19 in 1971, Dr Syeda Badrun Nahar Chowdhury, who rendered medicare services to the freedom fighters and repressed women since the beginning of the Liberation War during her studentship, and freedom fighter Nayeem Gahar, the writer of famous patriotic song 'Janmo amar dhonya holo mago' who had carried important messages from Bangabandhu to Chittagong Awami League leaders on the night of March 25 in 1971.
The others are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Pran Gopal Datta, academic and Nazrul researcher Prof Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, litterateur and Chittagong University former vice-chancellor Abul Fazal (posthumous), pioneering agriculture researcher Dr Kazi M Badruddoza, former editor of the daily Sangbad Bazlur Rahman (posthumous), and US expatriate scientist Dr Quamrul Haider.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will give away the awards at a function at 11:00am on March 25 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city, said an official release.