Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government, has conferred the 2025 Independence Award, Bangladesh’s highest civilian honour.
This year’s recipients, celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the nation, include pop legend Azam Khan, BRAC founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, and BUET student Abrar Fahad. Six of the seven honorees this year are being awarded posthumously.
The awardees are as follows: Prof. Jamal Nazrul Islam in the Science and Technology category, Mir Abdus Shukur Al Mahmud in Literature, Novera Ahmed in Culture, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed in Social Service, and Azam Khan (Mohammad Mahbubul Haque Khan) in Liberation War and Culture.
Badruddin Umar, a writer and intellectual, is the sole living recipient but has declined the award in the Education and Research category.
Abrar, who tragically died after being tortured by Chhatra League activists six years ago, was honoured posthumously in the new “Protesting Youth” category.
Family members of the recipients accepted the awards on their behalf. Jamal’s daughter Sadaf Sad Siddiqi, Al Mahmud’s daughter Begum Atia Mir, Fazle Hasan’s son Shameran Abed, Azam Khan’s daughter Arani Khan, and Abrar’s mother Rokeya Khatun received the awards for their loved ones.
Novera Ahmed’s award will be presented to her family through the Bangladeshi Embassy in Paris.
Regarding Badruddin’s decision to decline the award, the government acknowledged it and chose not to create a separate medal for him. However, a replica of the award will be displayed at the National Museum, as explained by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, who chaired the event.
Since 1977, Bangladesh has honoured the Independence Award recipients annually, ahead of Independence Day on March 26. The awardees receive a cash prize of Tk 300,000, an 18-karat gold medal weighing 50 grams, a replica of the medal, and a certificate.
