Eight chosen for Independence Awards

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Eight personalities, including Speaker Abdul Hamid, late Freedom Fighter MA Hannan and late composer Satya Saha will be awarded Independence Awards for the year 2013, a government press release said Sunday, reports bdnews24.com. The eight personalities have been chosen for their contributions to the nation, it said. Posthumously honoured MA Hannan was one of the organisers of the Liberation War and announced the declaration for Independence on behalf of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Mar 26, 1971. Martyred Police Superintendent Mohammad Shamsul Haque (posthumous) will be given the honour for his important contributions during the Liberation War in Chittagong. He was killed by the Pakistan army. Speaker of the House Mohammad Abdul Hamid was an active participant of the Liberation War. Freedom fighter Dr Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain contributed greatly to liberate Dhaka's Mirpur in the beginning of the year 1972. Freedom fighter Lt Colonel (Retd) Kazi Sazzad Ali Zahir (Bir Protik) will receive the award for his special contributions in identifying almost 4,000 graves of freedom fighters in India and also for his efforts to get back home their last remains. Language movement activist, freedom fighter and economist Swadesh Ranjan Bose (posthumous) has been chosen for his contributions to economics and celebrated composer, actor and film maker Satya Saha (posthumous) for his contribution to culture. Dr. Mohammad Abdul Hamid Miah will be bestowed the honour for his research on agriculture and its development. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will give away the awards at a ceremony in the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10:30 am on March 25, said an official release.