Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the country’s highest civilian honor, the Independence Award 2026, to this year’s recipients at a ceremony held on Thursday, April 16, at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The award recognizes outstanding contributions at the national level, and this year 15 distinguished individuals and 5 institutions were honored. The list of awardees had been announced earlier on March 5 by the Cabinet Division.

Among the recipients, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was posthumously honored for her contributions to independence, democracy, and women’s education. Other honorees include Major Mohammad Abul Jalil (posthumous) and Faujdarhat Cadet College for Liberation War, Professor Dr. Zohurul Karim for science and technology, and Dhaka Medical College Hospital for medicine. Cultural figures AKM Hanif (Hanif Sanket) and Bashir Ahmed (posthumous) were recognized for culture, while Dr. Ashraf Siddiqui (posthumous) received the award for literature.

Each awardee received an 18-carat gold medal weighing 50 grams, a certificate, and a monetary honorarium. Khaleda Zia’s granddaughter Zayma Rahman accepted the award on her behalf.