Khaleda among 15 named for Swadhinata Padak

Fifteen individuals, including late BNP chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia and late Milestone College teacher Maherin Chowdhury, and five institutions have been selected for this year’s Swadhinata Padak, the country’s highest state honour.

The government will confer the award in recognition of the recipients’ “glorious and outstanding contributions at the national level”, said a press release issued by the Cabinet Division yesterday.

Three-time prime minister Khaleda Zia has been selected posthumously for her contributions to democracy, women’s education, and nation-building. Khaleda passed away in Dhaka on December 30 last year.

She had long suffered from multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis.

Khaleda was the first female prime minister of Bangladesh. She assumed office through a popular vote in the 1991 national election and played a key role in introducing the parliamentary form of government.

Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher and coordinator at the Diabari campus of Milestone College, has also been awarded posthumously in the social service and public service category for her heroic actions.

She died after sustaining 100 percent burns while rescuing at least 20 students when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed into the primary section of Milestone School and College on July 21 last year. She succumbed to her injuries at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery later that day.

Talking to The Daily Star, her husband Monsur Helal said the honour reflects the respect and love of the entire nation.

“As human beings, many of us might wish we could take such a brave step in that moment. She was able to do it, and the nation has given her this recognition for that.”

Helal added, “This honour actually belongs to all 180 million people of Bangladesh. I believe it was a heartfelt wish of the nation, and perhaps that wish has now been fulfilled.”

Other individual recipients include Major Mohammad Abdul Jalil (posthumous) for his role in the Liberation War, Professor Zahurul Karim for contributions to science and technology, Dr Ashraf Siddiqui (posthumous) in literature, Hanif Sanket (AKM Hanif) and Bashir Ahmed (posthumous) in culture, and Jobera Rahman (Linu) in sports.

In rural development, the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) has been selected.

Several others will be honoured in social service and public service, including Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury (posthumous), Md Saidul Haque, SOS Children’s Village International in Bangladesh, and Gonoshasthaya Kendra. Kazi Fazlur Rahman (posthumous) has been selected for contributions to public administration.

Zafrullah Chowdhury received the award once in 1977, the year it was first introduced, and since then no one has ever been honoured twice.

In the field of research and training, Mohammad Abdul Baki, Prof MA Rahim, and Prof Sukomal Barua have been named recipients. Abdul Mukit Majumder (Mukit Majumder Babu) will receive the award for environment conservation.

Faujdarhat Cadet College has been honoured for its role in the Liberation War.