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Will spread Bangla, its literature further

Says PM while distributing Ekushey Padak
UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government was trying to spread Bangla, its literature and the country’s culture and heritage across the world.
“Our efforts will be to spread Bangla language, literature, and culture more in the international arena and I believe that we will be successful in that,” she said.
Hasina said this while distributing the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian award, among 24 eminent personalities in recognition of their contributions to various fields. She joined the event at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium from the Gono Bhaban virtually.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq distributed the prestigious award on behalf of the prime minister.
The premier added that the government has been working relentlessly to change the fate of the grassroots level and deprived people. “More importantly, we want to attain economic emancipation.”
Briefly describing the struggle of the country’s independence from Language Movement, Hasina said sacrifices of many people have made the Bangladesh independence possible.
“Independence does not come through a sudden declaration of any person; it came through the journey of the struggle. And that struggle was launched by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
The PM went on to say, “The contributions of him [Bangabandhu] is the independent Bangladesh ... .”
Recalling the efforts to erase the contributions of Bangabandhu after his assassination in 1975, Hasina said his contributions to the Language Movement and Liberation War had also been mostly erased. “But the reality is that no one could erase the truth and history.”
Congratulating the awardees, Sheikh Hasina said the new generation will come forward to devote themselves to the country’s welfare and its people following their footsteps.
Hasina reiterated her call to all to take Covid-19 vaccine as the government is providing it free of cost when many rich countries are not doing so.
She urged all the responsible people, both in government and private sectors, to make sure their near and dear ones as well as neighbours are vaccinated.
Sheikh Hasina also called upon all to properly maintain health safety protocols.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid presided over the programme while its Secretary Abul Monsur delivered the welcome address.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam conducted the award-giving ceremony and read out the citations of the recipients.
24 AWARDEES
This year, 24 prominent personalities won Ekushey Padak in different fields.
Mostafa MA Matin (posthumous), and Mirza Tofazal Hossain Mukul (posthumous) have been recognised for their roles in the Language Movement.
Zeenat Barkatullah won this award for her contributions to dance and Nazrul Islam Babu (posthumous), Iqbal Ahmed, Mahmudur Rahman Benu to music, and Khaled Mahmud Khan (posthumous), Afzal Hossain and Masum Aziz to acting.
Motiur Rahman, Syed Muazzem Ali (posthumous), QABM Rahman and Amzad Ali Khandaker have been recognised for their contributions to the Liberation War.
MA Malek received the award for his contributions to journalism and Anwar Hossain for his role in science and technology and Prof Gautam Buddha Das in education.
SM Abraham Lincoln and Sangharaj Gyanasree Mahather won the award for their contributions to social work and Kamal Chowdhury and Jharna Das Purkayastha to language and literature.
Enamul Huq, Shahanaj Sultana and Jannatul Ferdous as a team and Abdus Sattar Mandal as an individual got the Ekushey Padak for their contributions to research.