Eight distinguished individuals will be honoured with the Swadhinata Puraskar 2025, the highest civilian award of the country, for their outstanding national contributions, a government source confirmed on Thursday, March 6. The Cabinet Division is set to release the official list of recipients soon.The awardees include Mukti Bahini Commander-in-Chief MAG Osmani, poet Al Mahmud, sculptor Novera Ahmed, scientist Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam, pop icon Azam Khan, writer-researcher-politician Badruddin Umar, BRAC founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, and BUET student Abrar Fahad.The Swadhinata Puraskar, Bangladesh’s highest civilian honour, has been awarded annually since 1977 to mark Independence Day on March 26. Recipients receive Tk 5 lakh, a 50-gram 18-carat gold medal, a replica, and a certificate. Last year, 10 individuals received the award.The Advisory Council Committee on National Awards met on March 2 to finalise the selections. Committee Chairman and Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud remarked post-meeting, “Like this year’s Ekushey Padak, these awards may be a one-time event. They stand out as unique—whether they’ll recur remains uncertain.”

Committee member and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul added, “Under Wahiduddin Mahmud’s leadership, we’ve chosen names transcending partisan lines, recognising the award’s prestige. If the Ekushey Padak delighted you, this will thrill you more. We feel privileged to confer it.”