Dhaka, Feb 26 (V7N)- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that politicizing education, research, and artistic or literary practices can never be a hallmark of a civilized society.

He made the remarks while presenting the Ekushey Padak 2026 to nine distinguished individuals and one institution at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday (February 26) as the chief guest.

Commitment to Liberal Democratic Values

The Prime Minister said the current democratic government is committed to building a liberal democratic state grounded in moral standards so that the country can advance in all branches of knowledge—education, literature, art, science, and technology.

He noted that societies become more prosperous and morally enriched as the number of creative individuals increases, adding that the state honors talented and virtuous citizens for its own progress.

Historical Significance of Ekushey Padak

Tarique Rahman said the Ekushey Padak was first introduced in independent Bangladesh by Ziaur Rahman, describing it as more than a medal.
According to him, the award helps people remember the country’s historical journey from the 1952 Language Movement to the present and recognize those who have enriched the nation through knowledge and creativity.

Recipients of Ekushey Padak 2026

The Prime Minister handed over the award to the following recipients for their outstanding contributions:

  • Farida Akhter Babita — Film

  • Professor Abdus Sattar — Fine Arts

  • Marina Tabassum — Architecture

  • Ayub Bachchu (posthumous) — Music

  • Arthi Ahmed — Dance

  • Islam Uddin Palakar — Drama

  • Shafiq Rehman — Journalism

  • Professor Mahbubul Alam Majumder — Education

  • Tejas Halder Yash — Sculpture

The popular band Warphase was also honored with the Ekushey Padak for its contribution to music.

About the Award

The Ekushey Padak is the second-highest civilian award of Bangladesh, introduced in 1976 to recognize outstanding national contributions in language, literature, arts, education, research, journalism, and social service.

END/SMA/AJ