Prime Minister Presents Ekushey Padak 2026

In recognition of outstanding contributions across diverse fields of national life, Prime Minister Tariq Rahman conferred the nation’s second-highest civilian honour, the Ekushey Padak 2026, upon nine distinguished individuals and one renowned institution.

The ceremony was held on Thursday, 26 February, at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. Organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the event saw the recipients receive the honour in the form of a medal, a certificate, and a monetary award. Attending the ceremony were members of the Cabinet, senior military and civil officials, and invited dignitaries from various spheres of public life.

This year, the awards recognised exceptional achievements in the fields of performing arts, visual arts, architecture, music, dance, journalism, education, and sculpture. Among the notable awardees, Farida Akter Babita received the Padak for her outstanding contribution to acting. In visual arts, Professor Dr. Md. Abdus Sattar was honoured, while internationally acclaimed architect Merina Tabassum received the award for her achievements in architecture.

In the field of music, the legendary Ayub Bachchu was posthumously awarded for his extraordinary contributions. Dance artist Arthi Ahmed and traditional Bengali folk performer Islam Uddin Palakar were also recognised for their significant contributions to their respective art forms.

In other areas, Shafiq Rehman was awarded for his lifelong courage in journalism, Professor Dr. Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for his remarkable contributions to education, and sculptor Tejas Haldar Jos for his work in sculpture. Notably, for the first time, a band received the Padak: the popular musical group Warfaze was honoured for its special contribution to the music scene.

The list of recipients had been officially announced on 19 February through a notification issued by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

The Ekushey Padak, instituted in 1976, commemorates the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement and recognises exceptional national contributions in areas including language activism, arts and culture, education, research, and social service.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Tariq Rahman congratulated the awardees, stating that their work would inspire future generations in patriotism and creativity. Following the ceremony, he was scheduled to attend the inaugural event of the historic Amar Ekushey Book Fair later in the afternoon.

Ekushey Padak 2026 Recipients