Former three-time Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, along with 14 other individuals and five institutions, will receive the Independence Award 2026, Bangladesh’s highest civilian honor. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Nasimul Gani announced the decision on Thursday, March 5, 2026, following a Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. Khaleda Zia has been selected posthumously for her contributions to independence, democracy, and women’s education.

The list of honorees includes figures from diverse fields such as science, literature, culture, sports, rural development, social service, public administration, research, and environmental conservation. Institutions like Faujdarhat Cadet College, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, PKSF, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, and SOS Children’s Village International in Bangladesh are among the awardees.

The Independence Award, introduced in 1977, is presented annually on March 26 to honor individuals and organizations for their distinguished contributions to national life and the memory of the 1971 Liberation War.