21 eminent citizens get Ekushey Padak

The government on Tuesday announced names of 21 eminent citizens for Ekushey Padak, the countrys second highest civilian award after Swadhinata Padak -- for their contributions in different fields.

The Culture Ministry announced the names in a circular signed by Deputy Secretary Irin Farzana.

This year, two were awarded in the Language Movement category, twelve in the Shilpakala (acting, music, dance and cinematography on Liberation War), two in social services, four in Language and Literature and one in Education.

Md Ashrafuddin Ahmed and freedom fighter Hatem Ali Mia (posthumously) have been named for the award in the Language Movement category.

Jalal Uddin Kha (posthumously), Freedom Fighter Kolyani Ghose, Bidit Lal Das (posthumously), Andrew Kishore (posthumously) and Shuvra Deb will receive the award in the category of Shilpakala (music) while Shibli Mohammad in Shilpakala (dance), Doly Zahur and MA Alamgir in Shilpakala (acting), Khan Md Mustafa Walid (Shimul Mustafa), Rupa Chakrabarti in Shilpakala (recitation), Shajahan Ahmed Bikash in Shilpakala (painting), Kawsar Chowdhury in Shilpakala (documentation), Md Ziaul Haque and Rafique Ahmed in social service, Muhammad Samad, Luthfur Rahman Ritan, Minar Mansur and Rudra Muhammad Shahidullah (posthumously) (language and literature) and Professor Dr venerable Jinabodhi (education) have been named for the awards.