Jaima Rahman, granddaughter of the late BNP Chairperson and three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, accepted the posthumous Independence Award on her behalf. The award was presented by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. during a ceremony held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The event honored individuals and institutions for their exceptional contributions to the nation, with ministers, senior officials, and invited guests in attendance.

This year, the government selected Khaleda Zia for the Independence Award in recognition of her contributions to independence, democracy, women’s education, and national development. Alongside her, 14 other distinguished individuals and five institutions were chosen for the 2026 awards, including figures from science, literature, culture, sports, social service, and environmental conservation.

The Independence Award is Bangladesh’s highest national honor, given for outstanding contributions to the country’s independence, liberation war, and other national achievements.