Independence Award
The Independence Award (Bengali: স্বাধীনতা পদক, Swadhinata Padak), also known as the Independence Day Award, is the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Government of Bangladesh to recognize exceptional contributions to the nation's liberation war, rural and national development, and outstanding achievements in sectors including science and technology, literature, education, medical science, economy, and social service.[1] Instituted in 1977 during the presidency of Ziaur Rahman, the award is typically conferred annually in the days preceding or following 26 March, Bangladesh's Independence Day, upon both individuals and institutions selected through a cabinet committee process.[2][3] Recipients are presented with an 18-carat gold medal weighing 50 grams, a replica of the medal, a certificate of honour, and a cash award of 500,000 Bangladeshi taka.[4] Among its notable aspects, the award has honoured freedom fighters, posthumous figures such as poet Al Mahmud and sculptor Novera Ahmed, and living contributors like BRAC founder Fazle Hasan Abed, reflecting its role in acknowledging diverse impacts on Bangladesh's progress since independence.[5]