Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said those working silently across the country for the nation will be honoured in future and the government was working to collect their names.
She was addressing the ceremony to present the Swadhinata Purashkar 2016, the highest state award, at the city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
The PM urged all to work together to build the country imbued with the spirit of Liberation War.
“We’ve gained this hard-earned independence in exchange for the blood of millions of martyrs. We want the benefit of independence to reach every doorsteps of Bangladesh…our main goal is to ensure a beautiful life for all,” she added.
Hasina said Bangladesh will surely move ahead overcoming all the barriers in the days to come to establish its position on the global stage as a victorious nation.
A nation must have a course of direction, vision and philosophy for development as the Awami League has floated the vision, outlining the nation’s development by 2021 and 2041, she mentioned.
The PM said her government has been making relentless efforts for the socio-economic development of the country. Five crore people came out of abject poverty and graduated to lower middle-income class, she noted.
“We’ll reduce the poverty rate further to make the country free from poverty, Insha Allah.”
Extending her congratulations to the Independence Award recipients, the PM said these eminent persons and organisations have contributed a lot to different aspects of the national life, including the Liberation War, literature, culture and development.
She hoped the new generation will follow the footsteps of the Independence Award recipients.
The PM said some 55 eminent personalities and four organisations have been honoured with the award since 2009 for their outstanding contributions to independence, Liberation War and others fields of national life.
Besides, some 327 foreign friends and 11 organisations have been honoured over the years for their contributions to Liberation War.
“I think it is our duty to honour those who stood by us during our Liberation War…. I firmly believe we’ll be able to turn Bangladesh into a developed country. Let’s repay the debts of the millions of martyrs,” said the premier.
The PM handed over Swadhinata Purashkar 2016 to 15 individuals and Bangladesh Navy in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the nation.
The awardees are Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Textiles and Jute Minister Emaz Uddin Pramanik, Moulvi Achmat Ali Khan (posthumous), Squadron Leader Badrul Alam (retd) Bir Uttam, Shahid Shah Abdul Mazid, M Abdul Ali (posthumous), AKM Abdur Rauf (posthumous), KM Shehabuddin, Syed Hasan Imam, Rafiqul Islam (posthumous), Abdus Salam, Dr Maqsudul Alam (posthumous), Dr MR Khan, Rezwana Choudhury Bannya and Nirmalendu Goon.
